The killing of George Floyd, an African-American man who died while in Minneapolis police custody on May 25, has elicited reactions throughout the sports world.
The killing of George Floyd, an African-American man who died while in Minneapolis police custody on May 25, has elicited reactions throughout the sports world.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones, former NBA player Stephen Jackson, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, Philadelphia tight end Zach Ertz and United States Women’s National Team player Julie Johnston Ertz, Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow and former NBA player and current ESPN on-air personality Jalen Rose are among well-known sports figures who shared their feelings about Floyd’s death across multiple platforms.
Others joined them throughout Friday.
James echoed Rose’s comments from ESPN’s “Get Up” on Friday morning:
LeBron James✔@KingJames
Jalen Rose✔@JalenRose
#icantbreathe.
Jackson delivered an emotional speech at Minneapolis’ City Hall after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, seen holding his knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes in a video that went viral on social media, was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick offered to pay for attorneys representing those protesting Floyd’s death.
San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane appeared on ESPN’s “First Take” and called for individuals such as Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady to “speak up about what is right, and clearly in this case, what is unbelievably wrong:”
Sheng Peng@Sheng_PengEvander Kane spoke out about George Floyd this morning: “It’s time for guys like Tom Brady and Sidney Crosby and those type of figures to speak up about what is right, and clearly in this case, what is unbelievably wrong.” https://twitter.com/evanderkane_9/status/1266398664714379271 …
✔@evanderkane_9
Was on with @FirstTake this morning https://youtu.be/etXjC3OTl5I
Brady campaigned for justice regarding Floyd’s death on his Instagram story:
The Greg Hill Show@TheGregHillShowTom Brady on George Floyd.
Derek Carr✔@derekcarrqb
Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores shared a statement to ESPN and through social media:
“Most recently, I’ve had conversations about incentivizing teams for hiring minorities. Again, there was some outrage in the media and talks that this would cause division amongst coaches, executives and ownership. I bring these situations up because I haven’t seen the same OUTRAGE from people of influence when the conversation turns to Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and most recently George Floyd. Many people who broadcast their opinions on kneeling or on the hiring of minorities don’t seem to have an opinion on the recent murders of these young black men and women. I think many of them QUIETLY say that watching George Floyd plead for help is one of the more horrible things they have seen, but it’s said amongst themselves where no one can hear. Broadcasting THAT opinion clearly is not important enough.”
Miami Dolphins✔@MiamiDolphins
Statement from Head Coach Brian Flores.
Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem spoke with Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:
Ira Winderman✔@IraHeatBeat
Udonis Haslem: “I literally have 10 to 15 people in my family that’s in law enforcement. And I would trust those people with my life.
“But …something needs to be done about what’s going on in America with law enforcement and with young people of color.” https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/fl-sp-miami-heat-udonis-haslem-george-floyd-20200529-exg7tyg6dnawnkltom7ujhu5ey-story.html …Heat’s Udonis Haslem, ‘Those guys that made those decisions in Minnesota were terrible people…
Heat’s Udonis Haslem angry, vocal about situation and fallout in Minneapolis.
sun-sentinel.com
Former NBA player Nick Collison announced he donated $20,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund “in the Memory of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many other people whose lives weren’t valued because of the color of their skin.”
Nick Collison✔@nickcollison4
Today I donated $20,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in the Memory of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many other people whose lives weren’t valued because of the color of their skin. There is a burden carried by men and women of color in our country that I will never feel.
Nick Collison✔@nickcollison4
To be out in the world every day, having to worry about whether people see you as a threat would be exhausting. To constantly have to prove that your presence is justified would be infuriating.
Nick Collison✔@nickcollison4
This centuries-old, systemic racism we have in our country will continue to be with us if there are only people of color losing their voices pleading with the rest of us to recognize these problems. These problems are all of our problems.
Nick Collison✔@nickcollison4
If you love your country then you must love your fellow Americans that are screaming out in pain. Have conversations about these issues. Talk to your kids about issues of race. Have the empathy and the humanity to listen to these problems even if they don’t affect you.
If you love your country then you must love your fellow Americans that are screaming out in pain. Have conversations about these issues. Talk to your kids about issues of race. Have the empathy and the humanity to listen to these problems even if they don’t affect you.
Nick Collison✔@nickcollison4
At the very least stop with the questioning, the defending, the what about-isms. I am so angry and disgusted with so much of what I have seen. I’m worried about our future. I have been inactive for too long. This is what I can do today. Join me and do what you can do today.
Paige Bueckers, set to play for the Connecticut Huskies, tweeted “It’s TIME FOR CHANGE!”
Paige Bueckers@paigebueckers1When will things actually change for the better? When will people of color stop being judged by the color of their skin? What will it take to change? It hurts just thinking about how far we have to go, but we have to start somewhere.
Paige Bueckers@paigebueckers1I am white. I will never be able to understand what it’s like to be a person of color. With that being said, it does not make me any less angry just because I, myself, am not going through it. Its sickening and there is a need for action instead of words. It’s TIME FOR CHANGE!
