Kershaw: 'I want to listen, I want to learn'

Clayton Kershaw is using his sizeable platform to speak out on the Black Lives Matter movement.

The Dodgers’ ace joined the chorus of MLB players who in recent weeks have raised their voices against racial injustice. Kershaw tweeted a statement Thursday that called for everyone to stand up for Black rights and equality.

• Understanding racism and social justice

Kershaw shared a famous quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. -- “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” -- before addressing the upcoming Juneteenth holiday and the movement that has swelled since the tragic deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and many others.

“Tomorrow is Juneteenth -- the day that marks the abolition of slavery in 1865,” Kershaw wrote. “And yet today our Black brothers and sisters are still facing injustices every day, a reality that spans the history of our country. We have to stand up and say something. Change starts with conversations -- we have to be willing to listen and learn and enter into tough conversations, both with our Black brothers and sisters and with our white brothers and sisters. Silence won’t cut it. We have to start by saying something and STANDING UP for our Black brothers and sisters. I want to listen, I want to learn, I want to do better and be different. I want my kids to be different.

“Black lives matter, and I am committed to taking a stand and affecting change -- starting with myself.”

MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick reported that the Dodgers have given all employees the day off Friday to honor the Juneteenth holiday.

Kershaw himself is keeping busy with charitable efforts in lieu of live baseball. His foundation set up raffles offering the chance to meet the star pitcher virtually via Zoom, and those raffles raised more than $85,000 to support COVID-19 relief efforts by the Los Angeles-based Dream Center and Dallas-based Behind Every Door charities.