London, June 2 (IANS): English Premier League side Newcastle United and United States footballer DeAndre Yedlin has said his grandfather is relieved he does not currently live in the US in the wake of George Floyd's death which has caused a nationwide protest in the US.
"A couple days after George Floyd's death, my grandfather texted me and told me he's glad that I am not living in the U.S. right now because he would fear for my life as a young black man. As days have passed, this text from my grandfather has not been able to leave my mind," Yedlin said in a tweet from his Twitter handle.
"He was born in 1946, lived through the civil rights movement, lived through some terribly racist times in U.S. history, and now 70 years later he STILL fears for the life of his black grandchild, in the country he and his grandchild were born in, in the country his grandchild represents when he plays for the United States, in the country his grandchild represents when he's playing in England.
"I remember being in elementary school, and having to recite the Pledge of Allegiance which ends ".. with liberty and justice for all." Every American needs to ask themselves, is there "liberty and justice for all" and if their answer is yes, then they are part of the problem.
"In no way are we asking black lives to matter more than white lives, all we're asking is we are seen as equal, as more than 3/5 of a man, as humans.
"My heart goes out in solidarity to George Floyd, his family, and all of the countless number of victims that have had their lives taken at the hands of meaningless police brutality," his tweet further read.
Floyd, aged 46, died last week shortly after Derek Chauvin, a police officer, held him down with a knee on his neck though he repeatedly pleaded, "I can't breathe," and "please, I can't breathe".
The entire Liverpool squad took a knee at the centre circle at Anfield, in a picture shared by 'The Reds' on their Twitter handle.
Footballers around the world are taking a stand and voicing their anger following the death of Floyd. The movement has picked up pace with the coming together of such high-profile individuals.