Audio By Carbonatix
Marcus Thuram, Achraf Hakimi and Jadon Sancho have offered their support amid the ongoing protests in the United States as the Borussia Monchengladbach striker and Borussia Dortmund duo responded to the fight against police brutality and racism.
The U.S. has seen protests spark across the country in the aftermath of the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in Minneapolis and Louisville, respectively.
Both Floyd and Taylor, who were African-American, were killed by police, becoming the latest deaths in a country that has seen a number of similar incidents in recent years.
In addition to the killings of Floyd and Taylor, America is also reeling from the death of Ahmaud Arbery, who was killed by father and son Gregory and Travis McMichael while jogging in Brunswick, Georgia on February 28.
The McMichaels have been arrested on May 7 after an extensive social media campaign unfolded following the release of video concerning Arbery's death.
Floyd's killing, meanwhile, is the most recent catalyst, with police officer Derek Chauvin being charged with third-degree murder several days after video emerged of him kneeling on Floyd's neck for several minutes.
In the leadup and aftermath of Chauvin's arrests, protests broke out throughout the country, with those ongoing gatherings often leading to standoffs between citizens and police with destruction of property and looting also becoming part of the story.
The protests come years after former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick attempted to bring attention to the issues of racism and police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem, with the former San Francisco 49ers star now out of the sport as a result.
In the years since, taking a knee has become a symbol of that protest, with Megan Rapinoe among those to take part in the protests - and after scoring a goal against Union Berlin in a 4-1 win, Thuram made a statement of his own by taking a knee.
The son of former French star Lilian Thuram scored the second of his side's four goals in the 41st minute before adding another strike in the 59th minute.
The forward has scored 14 goals for Borussia Monchengladbach this season, his first for the club since making the move to Germany from French side Guingamp.
Sancho meanwhile made a statement of his own after scoring in Sunday's match against Paderborn after scoring the second goal of the day for his side. The Englishman removed his shirt, receiving a yellow card in the process, while revealing an undershirt reading "Justice for George Floyd".
The goal was Sancho's first of an eventual three, with the winger completing his first career hat-trick with finishes in the 74th and 92nd minutes.
His Dortmund team-mate, Achraf Hakimi, echoed Sancho's message following a goal of his own in the 84th minute, lifting his shirt to reveal the same message displayed by the England star.
American midfielder Weston McKennie also made a statement during Saturday's round of matches, with the Schalke star writing "Justice for George" on his captain's armband.
Latest Stories
-
NPA pushes back on proposals to scrap Fuel Price Floor Policy
16 minutes -
Policy stability, currency strength and regulatory reforms key to attracting investors – Stanbic Bank
54 minutes -
Stanbic Bank Ghana begins 2026 with thanksgiving service; reaffirms support for Ghana’s economic recovery
1 hour -
Nigerian imam honoured for saving Christian lives dies aged 90
1 hour -
What a seventh term for 81-year-old leader means for Uganda
1 hour -
AFCON: ‘Shameful’ and ‘terrible look’ – the chaos that marred Senegal’s triumph
2 hours -
Rashford scores but Barca lose to 10-man Sociedad
2 hours -
Diaz will ‘have nightmares’ over ‘Panenka’ failure
2 hours -
Tragic death of Chimamanda Adichie’s young son pushes Nigeria to act on health sector failings
2 hours -
‘I want to show the world what Africa is’: YouTube star brings joy and tears on tour
2 hours -
‘An ambassador for African football’ – Mane is Senegal’s Afcon hero
3 hours -
‘Europe won’t be blackmailed,’ Danish PM says in wake of Trump Greenland threats
5 hours -
Three admit £70m tree planting pension fraud in UK
5 hours -
How crypto criminals stole $700m from people – often using age-old tricks
5 hours -
Construction emissions pose rising climate risk, Scientists Say
5 hours
