Sport Shows Support For Black Lives Matter Movement

31 May 2020 | tshego

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Sport stars have used their social media platforms to support the #BlackLivesMatter protests in the USA.

An outpouring of anger at the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minnesota has led to reaction and messages of solidarity from across the world, while sport personalities and brands have used their platforms to lend their voices to the calls for equality.

In a short video, US sportswear brand Nike asked the world not to turn their backs on racism and to be part of the change. Rival brand adidas then reshared Nike’s video, commenting ‘Together is how we make change’.

Together is how we move forward. ⁣
Together is how we make change. https://t.co/U1nmvMhxB2

— adidas (at ) (@adidas) May 30, 2020

There were also messages of support and solidarity from the Bundesliga, where the German football league is one of the most visible sporting platforms having been the first major European division to restart after the pandemic forced suspensions across the world.

Borussia Dortmund and England winger Jadon Sancho scored a hat trick on his return to action, revealing a message asking for justice for Floyd.

First professional hat trick. A bittersweet moment personally as there are more important things going on in the world today that we must address and help make a change. We have to come together as one & fight for justice. We are stronger together! #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/ntOtwOySCO

— Jadon Sancho (@Sanchooo10) May 31, 2020

Fellow Bundesliga player Marcus Thuram, the son of World Cup winner Lillian Thuram, took a knee in solidarity with the protesters after scoring for his club Borussia Monchengladbach,

Together is how we move forward, together is how we make a change #BLACK_LIVES_MATTERS pic.twitter.com/7OJUWqTLQZ

— T I K U S (@MarcusThuram) May 31, 2020

F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile was outspoken on the issue, using his Instagram Stories to call out fellow drivers and personalities in his sport who had stayed silent on the issue. “I see those of you who are staying silent, some of you the biggest of stars yet you stay silent in the midst of injustice,” he wrote.

“Not a sign from anybody in my industry which of course is a white-dominated sport. I’m one of the only people of colour there yet I stand alone. “I would have thought by now you would see why this happens and say something about it but you can’t stand alongside us. Just know I know who you are and I see you.”

The six-time world champion also posted the same video shared by Serena Williams of a young girl expressing her anger at having to protest in order to achieve equality. There were messages of solidarity from fellow WTA players Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka as well.

View this post on Instagram

I can’t and still can’t find the words to say or express how sad I feel…. but she found them for me. She found them for so many of us. A lot of us are numb… lost for words… I know I am. This is a difficult time. A lot of us growing up were taught to pray “Let thy kingdom come,” this is what I continue to pray for in addition to so many that have been hurt/killed, or simply traumatized by how people of a different color are treated. The worst part is this is nothing new, “it’s just filmed.” I’m with a heavy heart. I’m lost for words. Video from @wealth

A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) on May 30, 2020 at 1:51pm PDT

Throughout the US sporting landscape, there were also statements of support from the NFL and various teams, as well as from Michael Jordan, who professed himself ‘deeply saddened, truly pained and plain angry’ at the ‘ingrained racism’ in America. Jordan is known to not speak out regularly, particularly on social issues.