Golf superstar Tiger Woods called George Floyd’s death a “shocking tragedy” but said violent protests were not the answer as unrest flared across the United States on Monday. Woods said he had the “utmost respect” for police and likened the situation to the Los Angeles riots of 1992, after four police were acquitted over the beating of motorist Rodney King.
America is witnessing its most widespread protests since the 1960s after Floyd, an unarmed black man, died while being arrested in Minneapolis. Floyd, an unarmed 46-year-old died after being pinned beneath a white police officer’s knee for nearly nine minutes. “My heart goes out to George Floyd, his loved ones and all of us who are hurting right now,” Woods said in a statement on Twitter.
“I have always had the utmost respect for our law enforcement. They train so diligently to understand how, when and where to use force. This shocking tragedy clearly crossed that line.” Woods’ statement follows strong comments from a number of athletes including NBA legend Michael Jordan, who said he was “plain angry”, and tennis player Coco Gauff, who asked: “Am I next?”
“I remember the LA riots and learned that education is the best path forward,” wrote Woods, the 15-time major-winner.
“We can make our points without burning the very neighbourhoods that we live in. I hope that through constructive, honest conversations we can build a safer, unified society.”
“silence is betrayal”
Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka has added her voice to protests over the death Floyd, criticising people for tweeting more about lootings than his death.
Osaka, who was born in Japan to a Haitian father and Japanese mother, has previously passed her time in quarantine posting lighthearted selfies in stylish clothes or by the side of a pool.
But her social media feed changed following Floyd’s death, as she posted news footage of his death and the statement “There comes a time when silence is betrayal” as well as tweeting “Just because it doesn’t happen to you doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.”
“When you tweet about the lootings before you tweet about the death of an unarmed black man,” she posted on Monday. On Facebook, she posted a photo of a wall painting of Floyd’s face, as well as several others from a protest under the hashtag “justiceforgeorgefloyd”.
Mayweather offers
to cover funeral
costs for Floyd
Meanwhile, boxing great Floyd Mayweather has offered to cover the funeral expenses for Floyd. The former five-division world champion’s promotional company, Mayweather Productions, confirmed on Twitter that he had made the offer, and several local media reports have said the family have accepted.
Mayweather Productions and the boxer’s agency have yet to respond to a request for comment.
Steve Bisciotti, the owner of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, pledged $1mn for social justice reform.
Tiger Woods
