Trevor Lawrence and running back Darien Rencher will be lead speakers at a demonstration supporting Black Lives Matter. Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Clemson's Trevor Lawrence to lead player protest over police violence, racial inequalities

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 6/10/20

Following the killing of George Floyd, an African American man who died while in Minneapolis police custody on May 25, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence took to Twitter to offer support for the "Black Lives Matter" movement and his teammates:

I’m siding with my brothers that deal, and continuously deal, with things I will never experience. The injustice is clear.. and so is the hate. It can no longer be explained away. If you’re still “explaining” it - check your heart and ask why.
— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) May 29, 2020

Lawrence and other members of the Tigers will put those words into action this weekend.

On Wednesday, Zoe Nicholson of the Greenville News reported that Lawrence and running back Darien Rencher will be primary speakers for an on-campus demonstration this weekend. While not officially sponsored by the university, the protest will be led by students.

The event begins at 6 p.m. ET at Bowman Field and will continue through the downtown area. Nicholson added 2,000 people are expected to attend, but previous protests throughout the United States and other areas of the world suggest the crowd could, and likely will, grow during the afternoon and evening hours.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, who will introduce Lawrence and Rencher on Saturday evening, recently received criticism after it was learned he didn't punish an assistant who used a racial slur in 2017. Arizona Cardinals star wideout DeAndre Hopkins, who played under Swinney at Clemson, defended his former coach via Twitter:

One thing I do know Coach Swinney has never been a racist or had any ill will towards any player. Best coach I’ve ever been around from a football perspective and personal perspective. He helped me become a man and grow from being a kid from Central South Carolina.
— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) June 10, 2020