George Floyd was one of us – a basketballer. Various US media have posted this image of Mr Floyd (number 5) with his South Florida State College team. Reports say he was a student there from 1993 to 1995.
The New Zealand basketball community gains strength through our diversity of our cultures, genders and religions. We are fortunate to have a strong African-American connection. The almost 40-year-old NZ NBL has been a highly visible platform for US imports. Some of these players fell in love with New Zealand and became citizens, worked here and raised families here. Some of these players and families have gone on to represent the Tall Ferns and Tall Blacks.
All eyes are on the US and how they will answer the outpouring of anger and grief in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. Just over one year on from 15 March 2019, a chilling day in New Zealand’s history, this is another tragic reminder of racial intolerance that exists. We feel this anger and grief.
Protesters around the world are showing that it is not enough to stand by, we must be actively anti-racist. To be silent is an act of complicity. To the protesters in the US and around the world, we hear you, we see you and we support the fight against racism.
