Trae Young to part in a walk in Oklahoma on Monday as part of nationaide protests following the death of George Floyd. The Hawks point guard was at Andrews Park in Norman, Okla. He posted on Twitter the call to join him with the hashtags #BlackLivesMatter and #PeacefulProtest.
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Young spoke briefly to the assembled crowd. Here are his complete remarks:
“I’m not used to doing this,” Young said. “I’m not very open about what I see or the things that go on in this world very often but for me, even though I’m 21 years old, I feel that it was necessary and this is bigger than me. I feel like this is a big step in the right direction.
“I grew up here in Norman. Everywhere I go I try to represent this city the best that I can and I know that this country is in a messed up place right now. And for me, I just think it’s important that we all stick together and we stand up for what’s right. It’s not going to take just me. It’s not going to take just you. It’s going to take all of us coming together and doing this as a collective unit. I feel like that justice will be served and changes will be made if we all come together and this is us doing it. This is the first step and I’m happy that everyone came out here today. I’m proud to be here. Proud to be from Norman, Oklahoma.
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“For me, I didn’t want to come up here and talk too much but I pray every day that justice will be served for George Floyd and his family. And it’s not just him, it’s hundreds and hundreds of other people. …It’s gotta change. Thank you for letting me talk and I just want to say no justice, no peace.”
Credit: Sue Ogrocki
Credit: Sue Ogrocki
There have been nationwide protests since the death of Floyd, who died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer was recorded pressing his knee onto Floyd’s neck as he lay on the ground in handcuffs for nearly nine minutes.
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