[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The "Basketball King" Michael Jordan expressed on the 25th that he feels "very sad, sincerely pained, and angry" regarding the death of George Floyd, a Black man, which occurred in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
According to the Associated Press (AP) on the 31st (local time), Jordan, owner of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, said about the incident, "I empathize with the pain, anger, and frustration of many people."
Earlier, on the 25th of last month in Minnesota, white police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on the neck of George Floyd, a Black man, causing his death. A bystander filmed the scene and posted it on social media, sparking protests across the United States. Initially starting as protests against police violence, the demonstrations escalated into violent incidents including looting and arson. The protests are reported to be occurring simultaneously in at least 75 cities.
During his active career, Jordan won the NBA Championship Finals six times with the Chicago Bulls. He stated, "I stand with those who resist deep-rooted racial discrimination and violence against people of color," adding, "We have endured enough of these things."
He continued, "However, we must express our opposition to injustice in a peaceful manner," emphasizing, "Our united voice must pressure our leaders to amend the laws, and if that does not happen, we must bring about institutional change through voting."
He also said, "I offer my condolences to Floyd's family and the many others who have experienced racial discrimination and injustice," adding, "We all must take part in solving these problems and unite to ensure justice is realized for everyone."
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that at least four people have died and about 1,600 have been arrested during the protests.
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