Petition urges Penguins to skip a White House visit
A petition that seeks to convince the Stanley Cup champ Pittsburgh Penguins to pass on a White House visit, if an invitation is extended, had reached over 5,000 backers on Wednesday.
President Trump’s decision to remove the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement was cited as the reason for the petition hosted by Care2, an organization dedicated to advancing social and environmental causes.
"The idea that hockey needs ice to thrive and the team is named after an animal that is clearly imperiled, it just made sense," said Aaron Viles, Care2's manager of organizing who posted the petition around noon ET on Tuesday. "There's also the Pittsburgh connection since the city was cited by President Trump for a reason for pulling out of the Paris climate agreement."
Trump said he was "elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris" when he announced earlier this month that the U.S. would withdraw from the pact that seeks to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Penguins president and CEO David Morehouse said Tuesday that the team would attend the customary White House celebration if invited.
“We respect the presidency of the United States and what it stands for,” Morehouse said. “Any opposition or disagreement with a president’s policies, or agenda, can be expressed in other ways.”
The call for the Pens, who held their victory celebration in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, to forgo a White House visit comes as the Warriors potentially could pass on the invite if one is extended.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr and star guard Stephen Curry have been critical of Trump over the last several months.
"We have not received an invitation to the White House, but will make those decisions when and if necessary,” the Warriors said in a statement on Tuesday.
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