The needless death of African-American man George Floyd at the hands of police officers has sparked protests in several US cities, also spreading to some cities across Europe
Bordeaux forward Josh Maja has condemned the killing of George Floyd, who died at the hands of four police officers who were trying to arrest him for allegedly using a counterfeit bill.
Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down, begging for his life and repeatedly saying, “I can't breathe”.
The tragic incident was captured on video made by witnesses, and it quickly went viral on social media, after which all four officers were fired.
That police reaction, however, did not stop Floyd's death from triggering demonstrations and protests in many US cities and around the world against police brutality, police racism, and lack of police accountability.
Maja is saddened by these one-too-many deaths and backs the protests to give voice to many years of systemic oppression against blacks.
The Super Eagles striker, who was born and raised in England, however, hopes that the circumstances surrounding Floyd's death can lead to a positive change in the future.
“What happened to George Floyd is absolutely disgusting,” Maja said, as per Girondins4ever.
“The fact is that this is not the first incident. There are so many similar cases, which are sometimes worse.
“Just being able to protest now is our way of bringing our voices together, making ourselves heard and supporting each other. Now is the time to silence the lies, make sure our voices are heard, and that there is change in the near future.
“I hope that these events will bring positive change in the future and that we can all do this.
Maja admits that he has had to overcome ugly situations where white folks treated him differently for being black.
“Today, as a black man, there are always times when you say what you want, there are people who treat you differently. When you arrive in an environment where there are a lot of white players, it can be hard to live.
“For me, it was not a big constraint personally, but many people have dealt with difficult situations. I am a strong young man, and I managed to get over it and be where I am today.”
