As more sports figures speak out about the death of George Floyd and the subsequent protests that erupted around the United States, San Antonio Spurs head coach followed up his comments about President Trump with a video statement that addressed systemic racism and white people’s role in ending it. Popovich said in the video, which was released Saturday, that he was “embarrassed” to be a white person to watch what he called the lynching of Floyd by officer Derek Chauvin.
“It’s got to be us that speak truth to power, that call it out no matter the consequences. We have to not let anything go. Our country is in trouble and the basic reason is race.”#SpursVoices pic.twitter.com/uTyOIzGnTg
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) June 6, 2020
Specifically, Popovich called out the look on Chauvin’s face while he had his knee on Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes, calling it a “teaching moment” to see how he was so calm and casual while ending a man’s life, if only because he believed it was his duty to do so.
Popovich also says that it’s not up to black people to shoulder the burden of ending racism; that lies on white people, who he says must do more to stop the injustices:
So it’s got to be us, in my opinion, that speak truth to power, and call it out, no matter what the consequences. We have to speak. We have to not let anything go.
The 71-year-old coaching legend has always been outspoken about social issues, and is one of Trump’s highest-profile critics in the sports world. To see him soberly address the role of white people in the systemic racism and police brutality in this country is not surprising, but it is enlightening to see him state so soberly who the blame falls on.
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