Simone Biles.Photo: Nathan Congleton//NBCUniversal via Getty
Simone Bilesis speaking candidly about athletes and their right to use their platforms to address topics and issues beyond their sport.
On Wednesday, after pro-Donald Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. amid the meeting to ratify the Electoral College presidential election votes, the 23-year-old athlete tweeted, “Embarrassed but not surprised disgusted but not surprised sad but not surprised angry but not surprised speechless but not surprised.”
She later responded to a message from Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson and echoed his sentiments about athletes forming and sharing their opinions on political and social issues.
“Stop saying stick to football like that’s our only purpose on this earth,” Jefferson, 21,tweeted. “We (football players) have every right to speak on whatever we feel no matter the situation.”
Reposting his tweet, Biles — who is the most decorated American gymnast of all time —added, “As well as any other athletes !!!!!!!!!!!”
The tweets from Biles and Jefferson come months after fellow sports stars publicly addressed the topic, including NBA starLeBron Jameswho clashed withFox NewspersonalityLaura Ingraham, who once said that athletes should keep their political opinions to themselves.
Back in June of last year,LeBron Jamesshared a resurfaced clip on Twitter featuringThe Ingraham Anglehost, 57, slamming James, 36, for speaking out againstPresident Trump. “You’re great players, but no one voted for you,” Ingraham said in the February 2018 segment. “Millions elected Trump to be their coach. So keep the political commentary to yourself, or as someone once said, ‘Shut up and dribble.’ "
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“He’s allowed to have his view of what kneeling and the flag means to him. I mean, he’s a person. He has some worth, I would imagine,” Ingraham said about white athlete Brees. “This is beyond football though.”
“If you still haven’t figured out why the protesting is going on. Why we’re acting as we are is because we are simply F-N tired of this treatment right here! Can we break it down for you any simpler than this right here???? 🤦🏾♂️,” hewrote. “And to my people don’t worry I won’t stop until I see CHANGE!!! #ShutUpAndDribbleThisPowerfulBlackManComingFullSteam.”
RELATED VIDEO: Pro-Trump Rioters Storm U.S. Capitol, Forcing Evacuation of Lawmakers
In addition to Biles and Jefferson, numerous other athletes also reflected on Wednesday’s events and shared their reactions on social media.
On Twitter, Dwyane Wade retweeted an image of the pro-Trump rioters inside the Capitol building and reflected on the differing ways in which individuals in America are treated. “Black people get pulled over and don’t make it out alive. We can’t sleep in our own beds without being killed. We can’t jog without being killed. We can’t walk down the street with our hoodies up without being killed but they can do this???” hetweeted.
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman similarlywrote, “Never thought Americans would let terrorists into the capital without a fight….sad day.”
In another tweet, Sherman, 32,added: “There are certain things my brain could never imagine …. and one of them is black ppl storming a government building and taking things without deadly consequences. But that’s just my brain.”
Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmonsnoted, “I guess breaking in the capital and destroying government property because someone didn’t get elected in office is more acceptable than taking a knee for injustices in our country.”
source: people.com
