Halifax activist: Crosby visiting White House 'an act of moral cowardice'

Sidney Crosby's decision to visit the White House is already drawing some heavy criticism.

Georges Laraque, a former teammate of Crosby's, called Pittsburgh's decision to visit the White House 'an embarrassment', and now Crosby is hearing it from his home province of Nova Scotia.

"It's an act of moral cowardice," El Jones, a poet, professor, and activist in Halifax told Metro News. "I think that he can still fix this and maybe with pressure he will."

Crosby's decision to have his team visit the White House comes in the wake of President Donald Trump scolding NFL players who kneel during the anthem, and revoking his White House invite to Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.

"Sidney is a superstar. He's not some rookie that doesn't have a voice in the locker room," Jones said. "If he didn't want to go, as captain and as the biggest superstar in the league he could've made a serious point about not going. He has a lot of power here."

Crosby, a native of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, is undoubtedly the most prominent athlete the province has produced. Jones believes this decision could tarnish his image.

"A lot of people who play hockey in this province who are Black and who admire Sidney Crosby are now facing the idea that Sidney Crosby has no interest in standing up for them or seeing them or thinking that they're worth speaking for," Jones said.

Despite the decision, Jones believes there's still time for Crosby to make things right.

"I hope that he sees this and realizes how greatly disappointing this is to Canadians and particularly to Black Canadians," Jones said. "He has a chance to reconsider. I'm not saying he's a terrible person, but he made a terrible choice."

- With h/t to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette