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Over the past week, many current and former Virginia coaches and players have taken to social media to make statements about the death of George Floyd after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Demonstrations sprung up across the country to protest the systemic racism, oppression of black Americans, and escalation of police brutality that led to the deaths of Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor over the past several months.
Peaceful protestors also marched in Charlottesville over the weekend.
Here is what some Virginia coaches and players had to say:
Virginia Football Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall
Mendenhall: “Like so many before him, Mr. Floyd’s death was the preventable product of a system that too often treats black Americans as targets for suspicion, oppression, and violence.”
Read the full statement here:
My Thoughts: pic.twitter.com/aHGBd30tnk
— Bronco Mendenhall (@UVACoachBronco) May 30, 2020
Virginia Basketball Head Coach Tony Bennett
Bennett: “Words cannot adequately capture the pain and sadness we are witnessing due to all of the social injustice that so many people of color have faced for so long. My mind and heart are telling me that as a white man, talk is cheap.”
Read the full statement here:
A message from our leader. ⚔️ #GoHoos pic.twitter.com/0U4YLxzqDH
— Virginia Men's Basketball (@UVAMensHoops) May 31, 2020
Virginia Football Wide Receivers Coach Marques Hagans:
As a black man I understand the struggle that comes with the color of my skin. I speak out not to seek sympathy for being black, but to raise awareness that our journey in life is difficult, often unjust and that our lives matter!
— Marques Hagans (@coachmhagans) May 27, 2020
Former Virginia Basketball player Malcolm Brogdon:
Brogdon and former teammate Justin Anderson joined Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics in a peaceful protest on the streets in Atlanta. He addressed the crowd, mentioning his grandfather that marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s.
Brogdon also joined ESPN’s The Jump with Rachel Nichols to discuss his part in the protests:
Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon on #TheJump: "I want people to hear that this has been going on for over 400 years for people of color. And we are at a stage now where people are desperate, people are losing hope - we're at our wit's end. At this point, we need help." pic.twitter.com/huBxpYiT0Y
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) June 1, 2020
Virginia Football Offensive Line Coach Garett Tujague:
I apologize for my late response. I’ve been gathering my thoughts of how I could say exactly how I feel. Like most of you I have felt rage, fear, and disgust. #BlackLivesMatter #JusticeForGeorge pic.twitter.com/UiGAdHvqFM
— Coach Garett Tujague (@Coach2J) May 30, 2020
Virginia Football Inside Linebackers Coach Shane Hunter:
Three years ago in Charlottesville is when my eyes were opened to racism and hate like I had never seen. Now I know, and that is why I have to speak. We cannot let this continue. I pray tomorrow is a better day. A day when hearts will change and we will find a better way pic.twitter.com/a8IwYRbzM6
— Coach Hunter (@hotohunt09) May 29, 2020
Former Virginia Football quarterback Kurt Benkert:
Middle of summer workouts when the KKK rolled through town in Charlottesville, we were put on lockdown in our locker room. Had to see the looks in the eyes of my teammates of color & I had no idea what to say but I’m sorry. So many don’t care about the cause, only the effect. https://t.co/DYvOCHG4NS
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) May 29, 2020
Former Virginia Basketball player Kyle Guy:
You can hate, me judge me or unfollow me. Idc. Doesn’t matter color of your skin, do what’s right.
— Kyle J Guy (@kylejguy) May 29, 2020
I’m speaking from the heart and I just want to express my true raw emotions.. if you’re not outraged. You’re wrong. pic.twitter.com/ppwuqYlGfs
Former Virginia Football cornerback Bryce Hall:
The Truth is... a lot of white people follow and look up to me & a lot of us other black athletes as well and I love y’all so much, but I ask... could you not just follow me & other black athletes but would you fight for us as well?
— Bryce Hall (@BryceHall11) May 31, 2020
Virginia Football offensive tackle Ryan Nelson:
— Ryan Nelson (@Ryan_Nelson_54) May 31, 2020
Former Virginia Basketball player London Perrantes:
✊✊ ✊ ✊ ✊ ✊ pic.twitter.com/pm0VWYX5xN
— London Perrantes (@London_Tyus) May 27, 2020
Virginia Football linebacker Charles Snowden:
From the bottom of my heart. Thank you to every single person on the front lines protesting for our rights. Risking their lives to make our voices heard. We must be the change #RIPGeorgeFloyd #BlackLivesMatter
— Charles Snowden III (@csnoww3) May 31, 2020