Raheem Sterling gives backing to Black Lives Matter protests

‘The only disease right now is the racism we are fighting’: Raheem Sterling gives backing to Black Lives Matter protests across the world as England and Manchester City star vows to continue to speak out

  • Raheem Sterling has backed the Black Lives Matter protests around the world
  • The Manchester City winger has vowed to continue to speak out about racism 
  • Protests have taken place in a number of locations in the UK including London 
  • Sterling told Newsnight ‘the only disease right now is the racism we are fighting’ 

Manchester City star Raheem Sterling has backed the Black Lives Matter protests currently taking place across the world and believes that ‘the only disease right now is the racism we are fighting’.

The 25-year-old England international has remained vocal about discrimination and vowed to continue to speak out about the issue. 

Protests have taken place in London, Bristol, Manchester, Wolverhampton, Nottingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh after George Floyd’s death in America.

Manchester City star Raheem Sterling has backed the Black Lives Matter global protests

Protests have taken place across the UK and around the world after the death of George Floyd

Floyd, 46, died while being arrested in Minneapolis on May 25 – and the four officers involved have now been charged over his death.

But wide-scale marches have since been held across the world, with a host of sportsmen and women using their influence to lend support to the movement. 

In an interview set to be broadcast on Monday evening, Sterling told BBC Newsnight: ‘I know this might sound a little bit cheesy but the only disease right now is the racism that we are fighting.

‘This is the most important thing at this moment in time because this is something that is happening for years and years. Just like the pandemic, we want to find a solution to stop it.

Floyd’s death has sparked calls for change and led to marches taking place around the world

A host of sportsmen and women have used their influence to lend backing to the movement

‘At the same time, this is what all these protesters are doing. They are trying to find a solution and a way to stop the injustice they are seeing, and they are fighting for their cause.

‘As long as they are doing it peacefully and safely and not hurting anybody and not breaking into any stores, they continue to protest in this peaceful way.’

The former Liverpool wideman has also challenged the British media’s perception of black players – and last year counselled his peers against walking off the field if they suffer racial abuse. 

Sterling added: ‘There’s only so much communities and other backgrounds can take – especially black people.

Sterling has remained vocal about the issue of racism and vowed to continue to speak out

‘It’s been going on for hundreds of years and people are tired and people are ready for change.

‘This is something that needs more than just talking. We need to actually implement change and highlight the places that do need changes.

‘But this is something that I myself will continue to do, and spark these debates and get people in my industry looking at themselves and thinking what they can do to give people an equal chance in this country.’

Sterling’s England team-mate Jadon Sancho is among those to have also expressed their support for the protests. He revealed an undershirt bearing the words ‘Justice for George Floyd’ after netting against Paderborn last week.

Jadon Sancho unveiled a ‘Justice for George Floyd’ message on his t-shirt against Paderborn




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