Isa si Charlotte Hornet owner at Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan sa hanay ng mga atleta, coaches at sports executives ng U.S. ang nagluksa, ‘nagalit’ at sumama ang loob sa pagkamatay ng isang kalahi nilang si George Floyd.
“I am deeply saddened, truly pained and plain angry,” saad niya sa isang statement kahapon. “I stand with those who are calling out the ingrained racism and violence toward people of color in our country. We have had enough.”
Si Floyd ay isang black man na namatay nitong nakaraang linggo sa Minneapolis matapos siyang tuhurin sa leeg ng isang white police officer sa loob ng 8 minuto na naging dahilan ng pagkasawi nito at pagsiklab ng malawakang kilos protesta sa siyudad at iba pang parte ng Estados Unidos.
“I don’t have the answers, but our collective voices show strength and the inability to be divided by others,” ani Jordan. “We must listen to each other, show compassion and empathy and never turn our backs on senseless brutality. We need to continue peaceful expressions against injustice and demand accountability. Our unified voice needs to put pressure on our leaders to change our laws, or else we need to use our vote to create systematic change. Every one of us needs to be part of the solution, and we must work together to ensure justice for all.”
Kaisa ni Jordan sa protesta ng dahil sa ‘diskriminasyon’ ng black people sina LA Clippers Doc Rivers at Phoenix Suns Monty Williams, dalawa pang black coaches na iginigiit ang agarang pagbabago. “We have allowed too many tragedies to pass in vain,” saad ni Rivers. “This isn’t an African-American issue. This is a human issue. Our society must start getting comfortable with the uncomfortable conversation and do the right thing. Silence and inactivity are not acceptable anymore. Now is the time to speak."
Nakisama rin sa prayer vigil sina Mavericks owner Mark Cuban sa Dallas kasama sina players Justin Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Lebron James na naglabas ng video kahapon sa social media hinggil sa matahimik pero dinagsa na protesta sa Denver at Washington, D.C.
Si George Floyd ay isang 46-anyos na African-American na inaresto ng pulisya noong Mayo 25 at dinaganan ng tuhod ni police officer Derek Chauvin, 44-anyos makaraan ay kinasuhan ng murder. Nagsimula ang lahat sa diumano’y pekeng $20 bill ni Floyd na inireklamo ng isang grocery store. Nang siyasatin siya ng pulisya ay pinosasan ay nanlaban umano ito at natuhod sa leeg nang madapa.