The civil rights leader and MSNBC host didn’t mince words, saying that if Sterling indeed made the statements on race as reported in the media, he should be removed from his post. “I’m not talking about how he feels. If he said it, he should be removed. And the NBA ought to say that we would disband and have another team there,” Sharpton said on MSNBC on Monday.

Sharpton also said the NBA has to have a firm stance on the issue. “Certainly, the NBA must make it clear that they are not excusing or validating this kind of behavior, and anything short of that would be unacceptable,” he said. Sharpton predicted that the NBA will become “a target” if it doesn’t take action on the matter.