Philadelphia apologizes to US baseball legend Jackie Robinson for racist past

The city of Philadelphia will officially apologize for the racist treatment of the first African-American major-league baseball player, Jackie Robinson, nearly 70 years ago.

A resolution passed by the Philadelphia City Council on Thursday named 15 April Jackie Robinson Day, celebrating the day that he broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. It also offers an apology for Mr Robinson’s treatment while playing against the Philadelphia Phillies, whose manager, Ben Chapman, led the team in ruthless chants against the historic athlete.

“Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Philadelphia,” the unanimously-passed resolution reads, “that City Council hereby recognize, honor, and celebrate April 15, 2016 as a day of honoring the lifetime achievements and lasting influence of Jackie Robinson, and apologizing for the racism he faced as a player while visiting Philadelphia.”

The resolution was introduced early Thursday by Councilwoman-at-large Helen Gym, who referred to the city as “one of the most disappointing places where he experienced racism,” as reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Ms Gym said on Twitter that she was inspired by a recent story about the Anderson Monarchs, a predominantly-black youth baseball team from Philadelphia, touring historic Civil Rights sites in the US south.

The apology will be delivered to Mr Robinson’s 93-year-old widow, Rachel Robinson.

Mr Robinson was portrayed in the 2013 biopic, 42.