Ian Begley, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Madison Square Garden Company posted the following statement on all of its social media channels on Tuesday:

"Every one of us has a role to play in creating a more just and equal society, where there is no racism, bigotry, violence or hate. We stand with all who act for positive change."

The Knicks, who are owned by Madison Square Garden, received criticism from former players and media for being the lone NBA team not to release a statement or video message amid protests around the country following the killing of George Floyd.

MSG chairman and Knicks owner James Dolan explained the decision against releasing a statement in a letter to MSG employees last week. He later sent a second email to MSG employees, seeking to clarify his silence.

The email, obtained by SNY, began as follows:

"Yesterday, I made a sincere attempt to provide my perspective on a very difficult issue, one that has no easy answers. I know how important this topic is to so many, and I do not want there to be any confusion about where I as an individual, or we as a company stand. So let me be clear: we vehemently condemn and reject racism against anyone, period. It is against every value that we hold dear."

Former NBA player Caron Butler, speaking with Alex Kennedy, recently criticized Dolan for his position.

"It's like every opportunity or chance that Mr. Dolan gets a chance to do something right, it's almost like he's pivoting in the space to go out of his way to do the opposite," Butler said. "And that probably works in the business space, where you disturb the market. But this is not a business thing. This is a humane thing. And I think that he made a bad decision not speaking up on it.

"And I don't know what he do privately or anything like that, but you should take a stance on justice, and what's right and wrong. And I think that, at the end of the day, your legacy is extremely important and you cannot -- I never seen a U-Haul truck attached to a hearse or anything like that. So people remember you from your good deeds and what you did for mankind."

Butler also suggested that the lack of a statement by the Knicks could hurt their perception among NBA players.

ESPN reported that Knicks players and other MSG employees were "furious" that the club decided not to make a statement. On their Instagram account, the club posted in support of the "Blackout Tuesday" movement on social media.

Several Knicks, including Dennis Smith Jr., have either joined protests against police brutality against blacks and other issues of inequality, or posted about the issues on social media.

The Knicks finished the 2019-20 season at 21-45, the NBA's sixth-worst record. They are entering their first full offseason under team president Leon Rose.

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