Coco Gauff responds to Roger Federer's 'Blackout Tuesday' post
Coco Gauff has suggested that Roger Federer should "educate" himself after responding to the Swiss star's support for the "BlackoutTuesday" movement.
The initiative has seen people from all over the world post plain black images on social media to show their support for the fight over racial equality that has exploded in the United States after the death of George Floyd.
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The African-American man died on May 25 in Minneapolis after a white police officer pressed his knee into the 46-year-old's neck while he was handcuffed and saying he couldn't breathe.
Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was charged last week with third-degree murder over Floyd' death and the shocking incident has sparked a wave of protests across America and the rest of the world.
Federer decided to show his support for the cause by joining the "BlackoutTuesday" campaign, with the Swiss leaving a love heart emoji alongside a plain black image on his Twitter and Instagram accounts.
Gauff, the 16-year-old African-American tennis sensation from Georgia, replied to Federer's post with the ways he can actually help in the fight for equality.
Among the suggestions for the Swiss ace were links where he could sign petitions or donate money to various causes associated with the “Black Lives Matter” movement.
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) June 2, 2020
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) June 2, 2020
Gauff's response to Federer also included the statement: “When you’re done, educate yourself. This doesn’t go away once the topic isn’t ‘trending’.”
Respected tennis writer Ben Rothenberg applauded Gauff's reply to Federer, insisting that it will not only benefit the Swiss ace but potentially his millions of social media followers as well.
Credit to Coco Gauff for helping Federer’s post be useful. pic.twitter.com/IXeooU8xkH
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 2, 2020
The teen tennis star has spoken out strongly in response to Floyd's death, with powerful words and videos on social media calling for racial discrimination to end.
“When will it stop? When will we be seen as human and not a threat? Rest in Peace to all of the beautiful souls whose lives were ended short due to racism," Gauff wrote on Instagram.
"All lives will not matter until society proves they actually care about black lives.”
Tiger Woods is also among a long list of prominent sports stars calling for change to create a “safer, unified society”.
Tiger Woods hopes tragedy can spark change
Woods said on Monday he has always respected US law enforcement but that their use of force on Floyd clearly crossed a line.
“I have always had the utmost respect for our law enforcement,” 15-times major champion Woods said in a post on Twitter.
“They train so diligently to understand how, when and where to use force.
“This shocking tragedy clearly crossed that line.
Woods did stress that the anarchy which has ensued in streets across America, is not the answer.
“We can make our points without burning the very neighbourhoods that we live in.
“I hope that through constructive, honest conversations we can build a safer, unified society,” added Woods, who in 1997 at 21 became the first black golfer to win the Masters in 1997.
with agencies