FORMER NFL QUARTERBACK-turned-civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick has voiced support for protesters who have demonstrated against the killing of an unarmed black man in Minneapolis.
Kaepernick, who ignited controversy in 2016 after kneeling during pre-game renditions of the US national anthem to draw attention to racial injustice, said protesters had been left with no choice after Monday’s killing of George Floyd by police officers.
Floyd, a 46-year-old restaurant worker, died after being pinned to the ground with one police officer pressing a knee into his neck for several minutes. The arrest, which was captured on video, showed the handcuffed Floyd gasping for air and pleading that he couldn’t breathe.
It was the latest in a series of deadly confrontations between police and unarmed black men in recent years that have triggered outrage.
Floyd’s killing sparked violent protests in Minneapolis, with demonstrators clashing with law enforcement, looting and setting fire to shops on consecutive nights.
Former San Francisco 49ers star Kaepernick, who was effectively ostracised by the NFL after his protest, defended the right of demonstrators to lash out.
“When civility leads to death, revolting is the only logical reaction,” Kaepernick, 32, wrote on Twitter in his first public comments on the case.
“The cries for peace will rain down, and when they do, they will land on deaf ears, because your violence has brought this resistance,” added Kaepernick, who has been frozen out of the NFL since being released by the 49ers in early 2017.
“We have the right to fight back! Rest in Power George Floyd.”
The four police officers involved in Floyd’s arrest in the midwestern US city have been sacked and have faced calls to be charged with murder.
Kaepernick’s comments on Thursday followed widespread revulsion throughout the sports world, with several prominent figures including NBA star LeBron James voicing their disgust at Floyd’s killing.
Los Angeles Lakers ace James was one of several celebrities who contrasted Kaepernick’s peaceful kneeling protest with the circumstances of Floyd’s death.
“This… … Is Why,” James posted on his Instagram feed, with side-by-side photos of the white policeman kneeling on Floyd’s neck and Kaepernick kneeling on the sideline.
“Do you understand NOW!!??!!??” James wrote. “Or is it still blurred to you?? #StayWoke”.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said simply: “This is murder. Disgusting.”
Lakers legend Magic Johnson also hit out, saying Floyd had been “clearly murdered.”
“How many times do we have to see black men killed on national television? This has been going on for entirely too long,” Johnson said.
“We need to start seeing black people as human beings and not animals on the street.”
Its a horrible situation but what good does destroying small businesses and injurying other people do?
@Sean Mooney: won’t someone think of the businesses?!?
@Nostalgia Ultras: you’re hilarious
@Sean Mooney: thanks!
@Sean Mooney: your right what happened is despicable. But protesting peacefully in massive numbers is the way to go. Carnaige, arson and criminal damage is not.
@Sean Mooney: Civil disobedience is unfortunately the only way to keep pressure on the horrible situation that a cold blooded murderer with witnesses and caught on camera has not been arrested.
@Seaniecp: whatever about a Target or a Wendys those lads are fine but I do feel for the workers in those businesses and the local owners who only have 1 store, that is there livlihood and ones own community. Probably there is no other way to get there message across given the strong racism in America atm, I just don’t think the internet should glorify destruction of someone else’s property
@Nostalgia Ultras: Business Lives Matter!!
@Rochelle: so comit more crime and endanger innocent people because someone else has committed a horrible crime. Great idea
@Sean Mooney: Well the State Attorney General said yesterday, there were no charges he could bring against the officers involved. Today one had been charged. So, that. I’m all for rioting when it’s warranted.
Well until America takes serious action against the treatment of black people by the police you cna expect more riots. Riots are the voice of the unheard.
@Bam Singham: hear hear
@Bam Singham: American police are heavy handed with every race. There’s no proof that this was incident was race related. Not every attack on a Black person is race related but it’s the default position when it does happen. Strange world we live in.
what happend to george floyed was murder no doubt about it but smashing up shops robbing shops destroying there community is not the way to go they let them selfs down and take the attention of what happend to george floyd away
@goaskmehoop: if anything it’s brought more attention to it
@goaskmehoop: Eliminate the first wrong (murder) and the second wrong (riots) doesn’t happen. Unfortunately, all the attention seems to be on the second wrong. Wonder why that is….?
@Camroc: George Floyd is mentioned several times in the article. His name has been plastered everywhere. The riots that are happening right now are a direct result of his murder and the extrajudicial killings of black people for years. If you really think the attention is only on one thing here, you’re not even trying to pay attention.
@Nostalgia Ultras: far better ways of getting attention than destroying neighbourhoods.
@Nostalgia Ultras: True -“all” was an exaggeration. But certainly the US right wing media have an imbalanced focus on the riots rather than the actual murder. It’s as if the riots are happening in isolation.
@Chris Mc: name one? You can’t.
White farmers in south Africa being murdered at an alarming rate no headlines,
@Richy Fitz: no headlines yet you somehow know about it, curious
When can we start the looting in ireland I’ve my my mind set on a 60 inch Samsung
Not defending what the cops did. It’s a disgrace.
But it shows what the city is like if they think the killing of a man gives them good reason for this violence and destruction!
America is a mess
@Fab John: plenty of video footage all over the place of white people dressed in black clothes with gas masks smashing up shops and burning out cars in Minneapolis.