Sports world weighs in on #BlackLivesMatter protests in US
- Protestors and activists have flooded the streets in USA after George Floyd’s death
- Sports personalities have weighed in on the matter that has seen violent protests in US
- Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Sports personalities have weighed in on the protests and demonstrations that have rocked US over the past couple of days.
Activists have been calling for ‘justice’ over the death of Mr Floyd, who had a knee pressed into his neck for more than eight minutes while being detained by a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, and eventually died on the scene in Minneapolis last Monday.
Protests in America have seen violent clashes with police, with dozens of American cities being set ablaze, with Mr Floyd’s death becoming a symbol for systemic police brutality against African-Americans.
Protests, which are also taking place across the world, have been triggered following the tragic deaths of Mr Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor this year.
While the world continues to weigh in on the matter, sports personalities too have added their voice on the matter.
Khusoko Sports takes a look at what sports personalities have said or done to the issue:
Jadon Sancho displays a ‘Justice for George Floyd’ message after scoring
England international Jadon Sancho while celebrating his goal for Borussia Dortmund against Paderborn on Sunday took off his playing shirt off to reveal a message in solidarity with the push for justice for George Floyd.
Marcus Thuram celebrates a goal by taking a knee
Borussia Monchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram celebrated a goal on Sunday by taking a knee.
The powerful gesture happened in the first half of Bundesliga’s match against Union Berlin when the French striker scored and celebrated by going down to his knees and bowing his head in a nod to the #BlackLivesMatter protest.
Powerful moment here at Borussia-Park as Marcus Thuram takes the knee after scoring.@borussia_en are now two nil up just before the break.
Watch live now on HD11 ?#beINBundesliga #BMGFCU pic.twitter.com/PZQ4pBs2GP
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) May 31, 2020
Schalke midfielder Weston McKennie wears armband written ‘Justice for George’
The Schalke midfielder Weston McKennie expressed his solidarity with the protests by wearing a ‘Justice for George’ armband during his team’s game with Werder Bremen.
The United States international later on tweeted:
To be able to use my platform to bring attention to a problem that has been going on to long feels good!!! We have to stand up for what we believe in and I believe that it is time that we are heard! #justiceforgeorgefloyd #saynotoracism pic.twitter.com/TRB1AGm0Qx
— Weston McKennie (@WMckennie) May 30, 2020
Arsenal legend and former England striker Wright shared on twitter
Ian Wright took to twitter to weigh in on the matter, admitting that it left him ‘tired’.
I’m tired. We tired. The comments, the replies, every day explaining ourselves. That video. Just drained. Maybe time for a bit of break.✌?♥️ everyone.
— Ian Wright (@IanWright0) May 29, 2020
The former England striker recently shared screenshots on Twitter of vile abuse sent to him in which he was labelled a ‘f***ing monkey, a n****r and a black c**n’.
Kylian Mbappe tweets about the terrible incident
France World Cup winner and Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe also showed his support, tweeting the hashtag ‘JusticeForGeorge’ with emojis of a speaking head and a fist.
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) May 30, 2020
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford pens a moving message on Twitter
Manchester United and England striker Marcus Rashford spoke on the tragic death of George Floyd, insisting ‘people are hurting and need answers’ as ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests continue to take place across the world.
#blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/LSEeQ61YRz
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 1, 2020
Lewis Hamilton hits out at fellow F1 drivers for staying silent over the racism row
Lewis Hamilton hit out at the Formula One community over a lack of racial diversity amid the protests in US.
The six-time F1 champion, who has personally been subject of racial profiling and abuse during his F1 career, said that he felt isolated in in trying to combat racial discrimination in a sporting discipline he described as ‘white dominated’.
Liverpool FC take a knee in training
Premier League leaders Liverpool weighed in on the protest by posting a powerful picture of all the players kneeling in a circle during their training today.
The team, which is looking to clinching the Premier League trophy once the season resumes, posted a picture with the caption ‘Unity is Strength’ at Anfield stadium.
The entire squad knelt in Anfield’s centre circle ahead of today’s training session in a powerful show of support for the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
Unity is strength: https://t.co/2BN18U4jIY pic.twitter.com/oVE5RgNMmh
— Liverpool FC (at ?) (@LFC) June 1, 2020
A point was made by the stars wearing different versions of the club kits with some decked out in red, others in the away black shirt and a handful wearing training gear.
Basketball legend Michael Jordan says ‘he is saddened..and plain angry’
Basketball legend Michael Jordan voiced his outrage as protests continued in US over Floyd’s death.
Jordan, a six-time NBA champion who was at the heart of the Chicago Bulls’ dynasty in the 1990s, called on people to show compassion and empathy and never turn their backs on senseless brutality.
Statement from Michael Jordan: pic.twitter.com/lWkZOf1Tmr
— Jordan (@Jumpman23) May 31, 2020
