Raheem Sterling Speaks Out on Racism & the Need to Implement Change

Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has spoken out about the protests which are gathering pace all over the world following George Floyd's death, saying protesters are 'finding a solution' to the problem of racism.


Video footage circulated on social media on 25 May of Floyd - an unarmed black man - dying after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes.


The response has been hair-raising, as hundreds of thousands of people worldwide have turned out in support of Floyd and the wider 'black lives matter' movement, eventually compelling the city's council to state their intention to disband its police force after the officers in question were arrested and charged.


Speaking on the protests, Sterling told the BBC: "Just like the pandemic, we want to find a solution to stop it.


"At the same time, this is what all these protesters are doing. They are trying to find a solution and a way to stop the injustice they are seeing and they are fighting for their cause.


"As long as they are doing it peacefully and safely and not hurting anybody and not breaking into any stores, they continue to protest in this peaceful way."


Sport has played its part in raising awareness for Floyd's cause. Sterling's England team-mate Jadon Sancho displayed Floyd's name on his under-shirt after scoring against Paderborn and was joined in referencing the situation by several high-profile Bundesliga stars.


Footballers in England haven't had the chance to do so yet with the Premier League's return not pencilled in until 17 June, when Manchester City take on Arsenal. Sterling - one of the leading voices in football's fight against racism - and many others have been vocal on social media about the issue,


"First and foremost, I don't really think about my job when things like this happen," Sterling went on. "I think about what is right.


"And at this moment in time, there's only so much people can take. There's only so much communities and other backgrounds can take - especially black people.


"It's been going on for hundreds of years and people are tired and people are ready for change.


"I keep saying this word. I see a lot of people on social media supporting the cause. But this is something that needs more than just talking.


"We need to actually implement change and highlight the places that do need changes.


"But this is something that I myself will continue to do, and spark these debates and get people in my industry looking at themselves and thinking what they can do to give people an equal chance in this country.


"Hopefully other industries can do that, and everyday society and the system as well."



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Source : 90min