Jordan, Hamilton call for change
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National Basketball Association legend Michael Jordan decried “ingrained racism” in the United States as the sports world’s reaction to the death of unarmed black man George Floyd leapt leagues and continents.
“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 US sports demanding change for black Americans, but the demands went far beyond America.
World champion driver Lewis Hamilton lashed out at “white-dominated” 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” following Floyd’s death.
But there was reaction as Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo, who will cross to McLaren at the end of the season, said Floyd’s death was “a disgrace” and called for unity against racism.
“Racism is toxic and needs to be addressed not with violence or silence but with unity and action,” the Australian wrote on Instagram.
McLaren driver Lando Norris added a line to his profile on the Twitch streaming platform that said, “sign the !BLM petitions #BLACKLIVESMATTER”
Canadian Nicholas Latifi, who is due to drive for Williams this season, said on Twitter, “This has to stop #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd.”
French footballer Marcus Thuram and England international Jadon Sancho both mounted individual protests calling for justice for Floyd after scoring in Germany’s Bundesliga on Sunday.
Thuram took a knee after his goal for Borussia Moenchengladbach in a match against Union Berlin, while Sancho marked one of his three goals for Borussia Dortmund against SC Paderborn by lifting his jersey to reveal a T-shirt bearing the words “Justice for George Floyd”.
Thuram’s gesture echoed the protest against US racism spearheaded by former National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick, whose decision to kneel during the national anthem at games in 2016 sparked outrage.
With US pro 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.
“First and foremost, I’m a black man and I’m a member of this community,” the Georgia native said.
Teenage tennis phenomenon Coco Gauff had a simple question on her Instagram post: “Am I next?”
And two-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, whose mother is Japanese and father Haitian, reminded her social media followers: “Just because it isn’t happening to you doesn’t mean it isn’t happening at all.”
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