Simone Manuel, Katie Ledecky e Cullen Jones per George Floyd

Diversi big del nuoto a stelle e striscie, fra i quali Simone Manuel , Katie Ledecky e Cullen Jones, hanno manifestato mezzo social tutto il loro disappunto sulla drammatica morte del 46enne afroamericano George Floyd, avvenuta lo scorso 25 maggio presso l'Hennepin County Medical Center a Minneapolis in seguito ai danni riportati dalla violenta e discutibile modalità di arresto messa in atto dagli agenti di polizia, le indagini sono ancora in corso. Il video dell'arresto, con gli ultimi instanti di vita di Floyd , è stato trasmesso da tutte le emittenti del pianeta suscitando grande indignazione e potreste non solo negli Stati Uniti ma in tutto il mondo.

Queste alcune delle parole scritte da Simone Manuel.

"Sono ferita. Sono stanca. Non importa da che parte stai. Perdiamo tutti quando non riusciamo ad affrontare la radice del problema. Le parole "libertà", "giustizia" e "uguaglianza" sono pronunciate da molti, ma le mettiamo poi in pratica per davvero? No! Dobbiamo ancora sperimentarlo collettivamente come nazione e non lo faremo fino a quando non ci riuniremo tutti e combatteremo per questo ... fino a quel momento non saremo "tutti insieme" realmente." ...

Un estratto dal profilo di Cullen Jones

"Come uomo di colore in America, ho affrontato la mia parte di molestie. Come nuotatore, sono sempre stato orgoglioso di rompere gli stereotipi e di essere un modello per gli altri nel fare lo stesso. Ma non posso più stare zitto ... è abbastanza, dobbiamo fare di meglio per la prossima generazione" ...

Katie Ledecky , compagna di allenamento della Manuel a Stanford, ha condiviso il proprio pensiero, invitando tutti al dialogo e al confronto, anche se difficile e scomodo, per cercare un possibile cambiamento volto a costruire una razza umana migliore.

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Days feel heavy and long. It’s hard not to feel or think about the sadness and hatred that weighs heavily on me, my people, and this nation. I’m hurt. I’m tired. We’re hurt. We’re tired. I think it’s always hard to find the right words as they are as scattered and divided as this country. There’s too much to say, but not nearly enough time or energy to express this sad reality. We’re not all in this together!! How far have we really come? Times change. Calendar dates change, but racism still remains. If we want a better country, we ALL must fight for equality and justice. No one escapes the bonds of injustice. No one! It doesn’t matter what side you’re on. We all lose when we fail to address the root of the problem. Here goes: • • • THE PAST STILL LIVES IN THE PRESENT! This is generational. It’s not just about death. It’s about killing our spirits. It’s about killing our dreams. It’s about making us feel less than. It’s about dismissing and ignoring our pain. It’s about silencing our voice. It’s about punishing us when we use our voice and labeling us as “angry” or a “threat” rather than acknowledging we’re exercising our “freedom of speech.” It’s about calling the police and using my skin color against me. It’s about clinching your purse. It’s about believing we don’t belong. It’s about failing to acknowledge and understand my very existence, my pain. It’s about repeating the sins of the past. It’s about thinking that skin color affords ones privileges or denies basic human dignity! It’s about speaking against instead of with our fight for justice. It’s about remaining silent. This needs to be everybody’s fight! • • • The words “freedom”, “justice,” and “equality” are uttered by many, BUT do we really experience it? No! We have yet to experience it collectively as a nation, and we won’t until we all come together and fight for it... until we’re actually “all in this together.” • • • If this makes you uncomfortable, check your privilege. Think of those who lack comfort EVERY??SINGLE?? DAY??

Un post condiviso da Simone Manuel (@swimone) in data: 28 Mag 2020 alle ore 5:45 PDT

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— Katie Ledecky (@katieledecky) May 30, 2020

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I have loved this country from the day I learned the star spangled banner, to the day I was blessed enough to stand atop the Olympic podium to recite it before the world. But enough is enough. For years I have kept my personal thoughts and convictions to myself. I must stand for what I believe in. As a Black man in America, I have dealt with my share of harassment. As a swimmer, I have always prided myself on breaking stereotypes and being a role model for others to do the same. But I cannot be quiet anymore. As a new father, I am continually thinking about how to raise my Indian/Black son, in this America. I don’t want him to have to fear the people who are meant to protect. I don’t want to have to teach him that it is his duty to linguistically disarm those same people by being calm and following directions so that the person with the gun feels more comfortable. Just because of the color of his skin. For all creeds, religions, and backgrounds protesting, the hurt is real. But the way we achieve justice is yes action, but through peace, communication and most important, at the polls. I pray for the families who have lost loved ones at the hands of racism. Enough is enough we need to do better for the next generation.

Un post condiviso da Cullen Jones (@cullenjones) in data: 31 Mag 2020 alle ore 7:01 PDT