Jordan leads sports world’s anger over death of Floyd
legend Michael Jordan decried “ingrained racism” in the US as the sports world’s reaction to the death of unarmed black man George Floyd leapt leagues and nations.
“I am deeply saddened, truly pained and plain angry,” Jordan said on Sunday, as protests over Floyd’s death on May 25 spawned violence and looting across the US. “I stand with those who are calling out the ingrained racism and violence toward people of color in our country.
“We have had enough,” added Jordan, who was famously reluctant to comment on social issues during his playing career.
Floyd died after a white policeman in Minneapolis held his knee on the handcuffed man’s neck for several minutes.
“We need to continue peaceful expressions against injustice and demand accountability,” Jordan said.
Jordan joined a chorus of voices from the NBA, NFL and other sports demanding change for black Americans, but the demands went far beyond US.
World champion driver Lewis Hamilton lashed out at “whitedominated” Formula One for failing to speak out against racism. Hamilton warned “I know who you are and I see you” as the Briton accused his fellow drivers of “staying silent in the midst of injustice”.
NBA superstar Lebron James continued to voice his angst too, tweeting on Sunday: “Why Doesn’t America Love US TOO”.
SANCHO’S JUSTICE CALL French footballer Marcus Thuram and England’s Jadon Sancho both mounted individual protests calling for justice for Floyd after scoring in Germany’s Bundesliga on Sunday.
Sancho marked one of his three goals for Borussia Dortmund against Paderborn by lifting his jersey to reveal a T-shirt bearing the words “Justice for George Floyd”.
Thuram’s kneeling gesture echoed the protest against US racism spearheaded by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, whose decision to kneel during the national anthem at games in 2016 sparked outrage.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver also sent an internal memo to the popular American league’s employees saying it shares “the outrage” at the death of Floyd, which comes in the wake of the police killing in Kentucky of emergency health worker Breonna Taylor in her home, and the fatal shooting of unarmed black jogger Ahmaud Arbery.
“We are being reminded that there are wounds in our country that have never healed,” Silver said in the memo.
With US sports on hold during the coronavirus pandemic, American athletes had no chance to demonstrate on the field of play.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown drove 15 hours to lead a peaceful protest march in Atlanta, Georgia. Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers, himself the son of a policeman, said that as violence escalated it was imperative to keep Floyd’s death at the forefront.
WE MATTER: RASHFORD Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, meanwhile, said “people are hurting and people need answers”.
“I know you guys haven’t heard from me in a few days. I’ve been trying to process what is going on in the world,” Rashford posted on his Instagram account.
“At a time I’ve been asking people to come together, work together and be united, we appear to me more divided than ever. People are hurting and people need answers. Black lives matter. Black culture matters. Black communities matter. We matter. #justiceforgeorgefloyd #justiceforahmaudarbery #justiceforbreonnataylor.”