Israel Adesanya speaks at George Floyd protest in New Zealand
The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota has resulted in protests and riots all around the world. One of the international protests was held in New Zealand, where UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya spoke out.
“I have to speak up,” Adesanya said to the crowd of nearly 4,000 people. “I’ve been doing it for like the last two weeks. For the last two weeks on my stories, you’ll see I’ve been angry. I’m pissed off.
“How many of you walk into a store and put your hands behind your back just so they don’t think you’re stealing? How many of you walk down the street and have to kind of smile and try to make the person who you can see is already scared of you, make them feel comfortable?”
Adesanya also spoke on his own experiences with racism and how he felt the world should act moving forward.
“We’ve been marching so long but it’s not about us now,” Adesanya added. “Shout out to all the white people, people of different races, cause we need you. We need you to speak up. We need you to say something.
“I’m sick and tired of seeing those faces get killed cause guess what? I see myself in them the whole time. It’s heartbreaking. I’m pissed off.”
