Carson Wentz, Zach Ertz and Ertz’s wife, USWNT star Julie Johnston Ertz, spoke out Thursday about the death of George Floyd and expressed support for the African American community.
Philadelphia Eagles star Carson Wentz, his teammate Zach Ertz and Ertz’s wife, soccer star Julie Johnston Ertz, on Thursday joined the chorus of athletes who have spoken out about George Floyd, the handcuffed black man whose death earlier this week while in police custody has deeply shaken Minneapolis and sparked protests in cities across the U. S.
The three athletes each took to social media to express support for the African American community as well as sorrow over the institutional racism that black people experience in America.
« Can’t even fathom what the black community has to endure on a daily basis, » Wentz wrote. « Being from North Dakota, I’ve spent a large part of my life surrounded by people of similar color, so I’m never gonna act like I know what the black community goes through or even has gone through already. I’ll never know the feeling of having to worry about my kids going outside because of their skin color. »
Wentz went on to write, « I don’t understand the society we live in that doesn’t value all human life. It’s heartbreaking and disturbing. »
Zach Ertz and Julie Johnston Ertz, a member of the U. S. women’s national soccer team, posted a joint statement on Twitter. Like Wentz, they acknowledged wrestling with their emotions and struggling to find the right words in the days since Floyd’s death.
« Even the thought of trying to come up with the ‘perfect’ saying is so damn selfish.
