BLACK VOICES MATTER — ATHLETES SPEAK OUT
George Floyd protests reflect hunger for change
“The thing I’m afraid of is allowing this moment to pass without bringing about meaningful change ... if we don’t come together collectively, the messaging will get hijacked, and we will miss this moment.”
ANQUAN BOLDIN, WHO RETIRED FROM THE NFL TO FOCUS ON FIGHTING SOCIAL INJUSTICE “I just moved and I’m on the top floor and I have to go in the elevator. Three times already I’ve had racist, scared white people jump when they see me … Why? Because I’m Black.” UFC MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION
ISRAEL ADESANYA, BORN IN NIGERIA AND LIVING IN NEW ZEALAND “In no way are we asking Black lives to matter more than white lives. All we’re asking is we are seen as equal, as more than 3/5 of a man, as humans. My heart goes out in solidarity to George Floyd (and) his family.”
NEWCASTLE/U.S. DEFENDER DEANDRE YEDLIN “It’s really numbing when you keep seeing people of our colour suffer from this oppression, time and time again. It just comes to a point when you can’t sit back and not do anything. That’s just not an option any more.”
JOSH OKOGIE, MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES “We cannot wait to change hearts and minds — too many people will die while we try. We need to transform American policing now. We need changes that will actually alter behavior.”
PHILLIES OUTFIELDER ANDREW MCCUTCHEN, CO-AUTHOR OF A USA TODAY EDITORIAL “Sadness for George and for all black people who suffer from racism EVERY DAY! … This has to stop, once and for all! Not tomorrow or the next day, it has to end TODAY!” MANCHESTER UNITED MIDFIELDER PAUL POGBA ON TWITTER