Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has sounded off about the death of George Floyd. Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Athletes express outrage over death of George Floyd

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 5/27/20

Some of the world's biggest athletes have taken to social media to voice their outrage over the death of an African American man in Minnesota. 46-year-old George Floyd died Monday night after a police officer knelt on his neck and didn't move, even after Floyd said he couldn't breathe and stopped moving.

LeBron James is among the athletes who have weighed in on the situation, and he referenced Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice.

View this post on Instagram

Do you understand NOW!!??!!?? Or is it still blurred to you?? ‍♂️ #StayWoke

A post shared by LeBron James (@kingjames) on May 26, 2020 at 4:38pm PDT

James has been outspoken on social issues such as police brutality throughout his lengthy NBA career. Following in his footsteps, many other athletes have also shared their frustrations and outrage over the incident.

DONE BEING QUIET AND DONE BEING ANGRY. HOW CAN WE FEEL SAFE WHEN THOSE MEANT TO PROTECT US ARE KILLIN’ US?!!!! WHEN WILL MINORITIES BE FREE TO BE AMERICANS IN AMERICA!?
— DeMarcus Lawrence (@TankLawrence) May 26, 2020

If I was in attendance I would have been arrested for sure https://t.co/odtTz8cKhg
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) May 27, 2020

SICKENING!!! I HAVE NO WORDS MAN!!! https://t.co/vrFJAcRw55
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) May 27, 2020

The four Minneapolis officers involved in Floyd's arrest have since been fired, but that didn't stop protestors from flooding the Minneapolis street where Floyd was murdered.

Floyd's death is under investigation by the FBI and state law enforcement authorities. It's drawing comparison to the case of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man who died in 2014 in New York after he was choked to death by police and pleaded for his life, saying he could not breathe.

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