United States international Weston McKennie displayed his support for George Floyd -- a handcuffed black man who died in police custody in Minnesota after pleading that he could not breathe -- during Schalke's Bundesliga match with Werder Bremen on Saturday, wearing an armband with the message "Justice for George."
After the match, Schalke tweeted an image of the midfielder wearing the armband with the #JusticeForGeorge hashtag.
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McKennie also posted on social media following the game. He wrote the same message on Twitter and Instagram, which read: "To be able to use my platform to bring attention to a problem that has been going on to long feels good!!! We have to stand up for what we believe in and I believe that it is time that we are heard!"
To be able to use my platform to bring attention to a problem that has been going on to long feels good!!! We have to stand up for what we believe in and I believe that it is time that we are heard! #justiceforgeorgefloyd #saynotoracism pic.twitter.com/TRB1AGm0Qx
— Weston McKennie (@WMckennie) May 30, 2020
Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was seen on video kneeling on Floyd's neck, was arrested Friday and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said.
A person convicted of third-degree murder in Minnesota may be sentenced to imprisonment for a maximum of 25 years. Minnesota's sentencing guidelines recommend 12½ years for a conviction on the murder count and four years on the manslaughter charge.
The criminal complaint said Chauvin had his knee on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes, 46 seconds -- which includes nearly three minutes after Floyd stopped moving and talking. The complaint also said Chauvin allegedly disregarded the concerns of another officer, who wanted to roll Floyd onto his side.
#JusticeForGeorge pic.twitter.com/5bvOIogVOV
— Schalke 04 USA🇺🇸 (🏡) (@s04_us) May 30, 2020
Players from around the world have also spoken out about Floyd's death. Kylian Mbappe tweeted out the hashtag #JusticeForGeorge a half-hour before the start of Bundesliga play on Saturday. U.S. women's national team stars Crystal Dunn and Alex Morgan voiced their support on Friday, with both players saying they were "sickened" by Floyd's death.
McKennie and Schalke lost 1-0 to Werder Bremen on Saturday.