In 2001, professional tennis players Serena and Venus Williams and their family, who are California natives, were racially abused and jeered in front of thousands of fans at the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament in Indian Wells, CA. As a result of this incident, both Serena and sister Venus vowed never to enter the tournament again and to this day have kept to their word. This petition has been created in an attempt to persuade Serena and Venus Williams to give the tournament another chance.

Indian Wells, or the BNP Paribas Open as it is formally known, is one of the biggest tournaments in tennis, and it is a shame that two of the sport’s greatest champions have not been a part of it for 13 years. Whether you are a tennis fan or not, there is no room for racism neither in sports nor in the world today. No matter what sport you follow, what makes it entertaining is that the best players from all over the globe are allowed to fairly compete and showcase their talent. Serena and Venus are prime examples of these types of top athletes and as such, deserve our appreciation and respect.

This tournament comes once a year, which means Southern California only has one chance to see them live, and we all want this year to be the year they end their long absence. Serena and Venus are universally adored not only for their tennis, but also for what they accomplish off the court. With this petition we hope they can give the tournament a second chance by putting aside the ignorance of a few and focusing on the love of thousands who have for years been eagerly awaiting their return.

Regardless on if you plan to attend the tournament or not, we would like you to be part of the reason they decided to come back, so please show your support by signing and spreading the word.