Heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua is the latest high profile sports figure to attend a peaceful protest on Saturday afternoon to show his support for Black Lives Matter Movement.
The WBA, WBO and IBF world champion marched the streets of his hometown with hundreds of others before speaking to the gathering at a park, where he read a poem from another Watford local and friend.
The Nigerian-Born British boxer, wearing a black hoodie with the movement’s name on the front, delivered a passionate speech during a protest in his hometown of Watford.
At one stage, Joshua, who walked with crutches and wore a leg brace as he recovers from a training injury, addressed those gathered over a microphone.
🗣 @anthonyfjoshua attends a protest in Watford to show his support for Black Lives Matter.
— DAZN USA (@DAZN_USA) June 6, 2020
(🎥 // @GRMDAILY) pic.twitter.com/39ZGFBQC70
“We can no longer sit back and remain silent on these senseless, unlawful killings and sly racism on another human being – based on what? Only their skin colour.
“We need to speak out in peaceful demonstrations – just like today, so well done Watford.
“We must not use a demonstration for selfish motives and turn it into rioting and looting.”
Joshua went on to say: “The virus has been declared a pandemic. This is out of control. And I’m not talking about COVID-19. The virus I’m talking about is called racism.
“We stand united against a virus which has been instrumental in taking lives of the young, old, rich, poor; a virus which is unapologetic and spreads across all sectors.”
Police officer Derek Chauvin has since been charged with second degree murder after a video emerged showing him kneeling on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while he laid on the floor in handcuffs.
His death has sparked a series of sometimes violent protests across the United States and demonstrations around the world.
