Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images
UFC and Bellator fighters join Black Lives Matter march in the UK.
All fifty states in the US have each seen protests and rallies in recent days, with the killing of George Floyd reigniting a global movement that highlights decades of injustice, oppression, and systemic racism. People from various countries have also joined in, and MMA fighters from outside the US have been taking part as well.
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya gave an impassioned speech in New Zealand recently, and now more MMA stars also marched in London. As seen on social media, British fighters from both Bellator and UFC in Michael Page, Jimi Manuwa and Darren Stewart all supported the Black Lives Matter movement on Wednesday.
The three MMA fighters posed in front of a sign that says “the UK is not innocent.”
“Fighters In More Ways Than One,” Stewart’s caption wrote, along with the hashtag for Black Lives Matter.
“Fighters In More Ways Than One” #blacklivesmatter @ufc @bellatormma pic.twitter.com/3ObBSWXF42
— Darren Stewart (@Darren_mma) June 3, 2020
“Fighters In More Ways Than One” #blacklivesmatter @ufc @bellatormma pic.twitter.com/3ObBSWXF42
— Darren Stewart (@Darren_mma) June 3, 2020
Thousands attended the peaceful protest in London’s Hyde park, with various other British public figures and celebrities (like Star Wars actor John Boyega) delivering emotional speeches, and using their platforms to spread the message.
The fighters also took to social media about the recent events:
#BlackLivesMatter #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/SUpj8VPMVK
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) June 2, 2020
See u tomorrow #ICantBreathe pic.twitter.com/pLulkvWcb9
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) June 2, 2020