The Schalke midfielder Weston McKennie took to the pitch for Saturday’s Bundesliga game with Werder Bremen wearing an armband reading “Justice for George”, the African-American whose death at the hands of Minneapolis police has led to protests across the United States.
After the match McKennie tweeted: “To be able to use my platform to bring attention to a problem that has been going on to long feels good!!! We have to stand up for what we believe in and I believe that it is time that we are heard! #justiceforgeorgefloyd #saynotoracism.”
McKennie’s action followed those of several other current and former athletes, including the NBA champion Stephen Jackson, the Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and the tennis player Coco Gauff, who have also spoken out about Floyd’s death.
The 21-year-old McKennie is a USA international from Fort Lewis, Washington, but had three years as a child in Kaiserslautern. When his family returned to the States it was to Texas, where he played for FC Dallas before joining Schalke in 2016.