Tamika Mallory accuses Panini of ‘racial injustice’ in scathing letter to sports leagues

Tamika D. Mallory, one of the former leading organizers of the 2017 Women’s March, is taking on a new fight.

The social activist sent a scathing letter exclusively obtained by The Post Wednesday to top execs at the NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, National Women’s Soccer League and NHL to protest the sports memorabilia company Panini America.

Mallory alleges the Texas-based business, which sells sports trading cards and is valued at $3 billion, has made a hefty sum of money off the backs of black athletes as 75 percent of their merchandise features them.

However, she claims that Panini has failed to showcase that same level of diversity within their company.

“There are virtually no Black executives at the senior level,” Mallory claims her letter.

“In fact, there is very little Black employment at any level of the organization.”

She adds, “We believe that businesses that benefit from Black and non-white bodies must have policies and practices that are equitable, and that reflect adequate representation throughout their business and giving structures.”

We’re told Mallory sent a copy of her passionate letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver,
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred,
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert, National Women’s Soccer League commissioner Jessica Berman, MLS commissioner Don Garber and NFL Players Association president DeMaurice Smith.

“Panini America is preparing a response to the letter and the serious issues it raises,” the company said in a statement to The Post.

Mallory contacted the sports execs as each of their organizations either has a partnership with Panini or may be in a position to become involved with them down the line, a source tells The Post.

The activist said in the letter — written on behalf of the social justice organizations Until Freedom and Black Church PAC — that they sent copies to the professional athletic community to “alert” them about “a serious issue” and “urge” them to “join us in demanding transparency and change.”

Mallory claims to have also contacted Panini America but she allegedly received “no response.”

Last week, Forbes reported that Mallory put pressure on Panini CEO Mark Warsop to make a change in respect to his company’s alleged diversity, equity and inclusion issues.

“What is happening with the Black employees within the company? I saw that their average salary is around $50,000 for their employees,” the activist inquired to the exec, per Forbes.

“So if that is the case, the question becomes, as a company, they are a $3 billion company, what is happening with your employees? How are they being empowered to grow to senior-level positions and earn the salaries that accompany those positions?” 

According to Mallory’s new letter, Panini is not the only company that will be facing scrutiny as she is reportedly already working on reaching out to others who are “operating similarly.”

Reps for the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, MLS and National Women’s Soccer League did not immediately return The Post’s requests for comment.