Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has spoken out following the tragic death of George Floyd, insisting ‘people are hurting and need answers’ as ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests continue to take place across the world.
Activists have been calling for ‘justice’ over the death of Mr Floyd, who had a knee pressed into his neck for more than eight minutes while being detained by a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, and eventually died on the scene in Minneapolis last Monday.
Protests in America have seen violent clashes with police, with dozens of American cities being set ablaze, with Mr Floyd’s death becoming a symbol for systemic police brutality against African-Americans.
Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has spoken out on the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement
The England international said ‘I’ve been trying to process what is going on in the world’
George Floyd’s death came after Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his head for eight minutes whilst restraining him for a non-violent crime
Mr Floyd’s (pictured) tragic death last Monday has sparked huge protests
There is huge civil unrest in the United States, while protests also take place across the world
Protests, which are also taking place across the world, have been triggered following the tragic deaths of Mr Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor this year.
And on Monday, England international Rashford became the latest high-profile name to offer his support to the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement, claiming it took him a few days to post a message as he was ‘trying to process what is going on in the world’.
Rashford wrote on Twitter: ‘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.
‘At a time I’ve been asking people to come together, work together and be united, we appear to be 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.’
Breonna Taylor (pictured), 26, died on March 13 when police fired into her apartment
Furthermore, Ahmaud Arbery (pictured) was killed on February 23 while out jogging
Lewis Hamilton hit out at his fellow F1 drivers for ‘staying silent’ during the racism row
After Hamilton’s comments, Daniel Ricciardo posted this ‘Black Lives Matter’ message
Lando Norris wrote on Instagram: ‘I have power through this to lead and inspire so many’
The three shocking deaths have triggered huge unrest and, on Monday, Rashford became the latest sports star to speak out over the ‘Black Lives Matter’ campaign, after Lewis Hamilton hit out at fellow F1 drivers on Sunday for ‘staying silent’ during the racism row.
The six-time F1 champion posted on Instagram: ‘I see those of you staying silent, some of you the biggest stars yet you stay in the midst of injustice.
‘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 who you are (sic) and I see you.’
Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho unveiled a ‘Justice for George Floyd’ shirt on Sunday
Marcus Thuram took a knee after scoring for Borussia Monchengladbach earlier in the day
Since Hamilton’s message, the likes of Daniel Ricciardo, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris have spoken out against the discrimination.
England footballer Jadon Sancho revealed a ‘Justice for George Floyd’ shirt while celebrating his goal for Borussia Dortmund on Sunday against Paderborn.
The likes of Weston McKennie and Marcus Thuram also showed their support for Floyd following his death, with the former wearing a ‘Justice for George’ armband while playing for Schalke while the latter took a knee in solidarity with the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement while celebrating a goal for Borussia Monchengladbach.
Protesters take part in a ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement in London on Monday
Activists hold up placards and carry a banner during a ‘Black Lives Matter’ protest in Zurich
Taylor, a trainee EMT, died after midnight on March 13 in Louisville when police fired into the apartment where she was sleeping.
She was ‘mutilated with bullet holes while in her underwear,’ the family attorney said.
The officers in Kentucky entered her home as part of a drugs investigation – but Taylor was not part of that investigation.
Furthermore, Arbery was shot dead by two white men while jogging in Georgia in February.
Gregory McMichael, 64, and his son Travis McMichael, 34, were charged last month with murder and aggravated assault for the shooting death of unarmed Arbery, 25, in Brunswick, Georgia, on February 23.
The man who filmed Arbery’s shooting was also arrested on charges including murder, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.
William ‘Roddie’ Bryan Jr, 50, was arrested on charges of felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment, officials announced.
Bryan, a neighbor of the McMichaels, watched and shot the footage of the attack. It was his cellphone footage that exposed the brutal killing of the jogger.
The killers evaded prosecution for more than two months, after the father and son team initially claimed they thought Arbery was a burglar after a spate of thefts in the area, and that he attacked them when they tried to make a citizen’s arrest.
But shocking cellphone footage – taken by Bryan – was leaked months later, showing the two men chasing and gunning down the victim in the street.