{"id":433885,"date":"2020-05-30T23:43:31","date_gmt":"2020-05-31T06:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=433885"},"modified":"2020-06-01T22:32:57","modified_gmt":"2020-06-02T05:32:57","slug":"simone-manuel-katie-ledecky-and-natalie-hinds-speak-up-on-george-floyd-tragedy-lets-listen-engage-and-build","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/simone-manuel-katie-ledecky-and-natalie-hinds-speak-up-on-george-floyd-tragedy-lets-listen-engage-and-build\/","title":{"rendered":"Simone Manuel, Katie Ledecky and Natalie Hinds Speak Up on George Floyd Tragedy: ‘Let’s Listen, Engage and Build’"},"content":{"rendered":"

George Floyd<\/strong><\/p>\n

Olympic champions<\/a> and world record holders Simone Manuel <\/strong>and\u00a0Katie Ledecky<\/strong> –\u00a0Stanford teammates – and fellow pro-swimmer\u00a0Natalie Hinds<\/strong> shared their thoughts on the death of George Floyd\u00a0<\/strong>on social media on Saturday. Floyd’s name has been heard all around the world the last week following his death after being held down by police officer Derek Chauvin<\/strong> on May 25 in Minnesota. Video shows Chauvin pressing his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes and without relenting, despite Floyd stating that he could not breathe.<\/p>\n

Floyd was initially taken into custody after a convenience store employee called police and accused Floyd of trying to pay for cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill. Chauvin and three other officers arrived on the scene and Floyd was said to be resisting arrest, which led to Chauvin holding Floyd down with his knee. Witnesses at the scene, however, have indicated that George Floyd did not resist. As Chauvin held Floyd down, he showed physical distress and ultimately wen silent. An ambulance was called to the scene and Floyd was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.<\/p>\n

Floyd’s\u00a0 death has caused outrage all over the United States, with protests unfolding in numerous cities, including Minneapolis. Some of the protests have been chaotic, with police involvement necessary. The Floyd incident has also called for an increase in dialogue around the country about race relations, inequality and police brutality.<\/p>\n

On Friday, Chauvin was arrested<\/a> and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Chauvin and the other three officers at the scene, who did not intercede, were all fired on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Ledecky’s longtime teammate Simone Manuel<\/strong> and Natalie<\/strong> Hinds<\/strong>, both African-Americans, expressed their thoughts on George Floyd’s death.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Simone Manuel (@swimone)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n