U.S. midfielder McKennie pays tribute to George Floyd in Schalke match
United States international midfielder Weston McKennie wore a "Justice for George" armband during Schalke's match Saturday to show support for George Floyd, the African-American man who died in police custody in Minnesota earlier this week.
@s04_en midfielder Weston McKennie @WMckennie wears an arm band in support of the late #GeorgeFloyd during a #Bundesliga match against @werderbremen_en #BundesligaIsBack #MinnesotaProtests #USMNT pic.twitter.com/EAB6OVXVSQ
— Sulaiman Folarin (@sulaiman4real) May 30, 2020
Floyd died in the hospital Monday after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pinned him to the ground by kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
The incident was captured on video and showed Chauvin ignoring the pleas of a handcuffed Floyd telling him he couldn't breathe. The officer was arrested Friday and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Floyd's death has sparked demonstrations both in Minneapolis and across the United States.
"To be able to use my platform to bring attention to a problem that has been going on (too) long feels good," McKennie said on Twitter after Saturday's match. "We have to stand up for what we believe in and I believe that it is time that we are heard!"
McKennie joins the likes of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane, and numerous other athletes that have spoken out against and decried police brutality and the unjust treatment of black people in the United States.