ICC, now is not the time to be silent: Daren Sammy urges cricket boards to support #BlackLivesMatter
Even as George Floyd's killing has led to massive outcry from across the globe, former West Indies captain Daren Sammy said the cricket world needs to voice out against injustice to people of colour.
In Short
- George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man's killing has led to massive outcry in the US
- Daren Sammy urged ICC and cricketers to speak up against racism
- Chris Gayle had said racism is not just limited to football but also prevalent in cricket
West Indies' T20 World Cup-winning captain Daren Sammy urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) and other cricket boards across the globe to support the fight against racism in the wake of George Floyd's killing that has led to a global outcry.
Daren Sammy said the reactions to George Floyd's killing is not just limited to America and pointed out that racism is commonplace across the globe and on a regular basis.
In a series of social media posts, Sammy, who led the West Indies to T20 World Cup glory in 2016, said if the cricket world is not voicing against injustice to 'people of colour', then it is also part of the problem.
George Floyd, the 46-year-old African-American man whose death while in police custody in Minneapolis prompted protests across the United States. People from across the globe have been reacting to the killing and the subsequent protests. On social media, #BlackLivesMatter has been among the most-discussed topics over the last few days.
"For too long black people have suffered. I'm all the way in St Lucia and I'm frustrated If you see me as a teammate then you see #GeorgeFloyd Can you be part of the change by showing your support. #BlackLivesMatter," Sammy wrote on Twitter.
"@ICC and all the other boards are you guys not seeing what's happening to ppl like me? Are you not gonna speak against the social injustice against my kind. This is not only about America. This happens everyday #BlackLivesMatter now is not the time to be silent. I wanna hear u (sic).
"Right now if the cricket world not standing against the injustice against people of color after seeing that last video of that foot down the next of my brother you are also part of the problem."
Daren Sammy's reaction comes after Chris Gayle said racism is not just limited to football but also is prevalent in cricket.
"Black lives matter just like any other life. Black people matter, p***k all racist people, stop taking black people for fools, even our own black people wise the p***k up and stop bringing down your own! I have travelled the globe and experience racial remarks towards me because I am black, believe me, the list goes on.
"Racism is not only in football, it's in cricket too. Even within teams as a black man, I get the end of the stick. Black and powerful. Black and proud," Gayle wrote in his Instagram story.