'Who approved this': NFL team's George Floyd tweet condemned
American sport fans have let rip at an NFL club after an 'offensive' tweet following the announcement former Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin was convicted of all three charges of murder and manslaughter in the deadly arrest of George Floyd.
The 12-member jury found Chauvin, 45, criminally liable in Floyd's death last year after considering three weeks of testimony from 45 witnesses.
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Floyd's murder prompted an outpouring of civil unrest across America that extended to the sports community.
Fans and clubs praised the decision on Wednesday (AEST) with NBA superstar LeBron James tweeting one word: "ACCOUNTABILITY".
While clubs tweeted their response to the news, the Las Vegas Raiders were viewed by fans to have missed the mark with an 'offensive' tweet.
Pinned to the top of their social media account is a post that reads: "I can breathe - 4/20/21".
The words come after Floyd could be heard telling the policemen he couldn't breath during his arrest.
Fans were left fuming at the post and called for the Raiders with one fan asking "who approved this."
Communications department approved this. PR department approved this. Digital team approved this. Legal, too, probably. Unreal.
β Z (@djboothEIC) April 20, 2021
This is so incredibly offensive.
β Shireen Ahmed (@_shireenahmed_) April 20, 2021
the fact that there were MEETINGS that went into approving this graphic and yβall made it your pinned tweet shows you gotta have the most tone deaf social media staff on the planet
β Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) April 20, 2021
β Paladin Amber (@PaladinAmber) April 20, 2021
Take this down
β Non-Fungible Makonnen (@iLoveMakonnen5D) April 20, 2021
If you want to see possibly the worst tweet of all time, just click here --> @Raiders and see 'Pinned Tweet'
β Kyle Beachy (@Kyle_Beachy) April 21, 2021
Who approved this honestly https://t.co/8aNYOSQD2L
β Lord Lightskin (@That_kid_kidd) April 21, 2021
Sports world reacts to Chauvin verdict
Athletes, teams and leagues across the sporting landscape reacted to the news of Tuesday's verdict.
Karl-Anthony Towns tweeted: "Justice and Accountability! Things I never thought I would see.
"Thereβs much more work to do, but this is an amazing start working toward the reform this country NEEDS!"
While NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace wrote: "Justice served on all counts. Good. Still a ton of work to do. Continue to rest peacefully George Floyd."
ACCOUNTABILITY
β LeBron James (@KingJames) April 20, 2021
Justice and Accountability! Things I never thought I would see. Thereβs much more work to do, but this is an amazing start working toward the reform this country NEEDS!
β Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) April 20, 2021
Justice served on all counts. Good.
Still a ton of work to do.
Continue to rest peacefully #GeorgeFloyd βπΎππΎβ Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) April 20, 2021
The following was released by the WNBA. pic.twitter.com/KWF4mkr6mf
β WNBA (@WNBA) April 20, 2021
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