Jon Jones speaks out on George Floyd's death: 'I’ve never experienced anything close to that level of torture'
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones wants justice after George Floyd’s death. In a string of tweets Tuesday night, Jones spoke out about the situation, demanding a “nationwide policy change” in the wake of Floyd’s death.
Jones, 32, began his tweet thread by discussing a video in which a police officer is seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck. Floyd repeatedly says he can’t breathe, but the officer doesn’t move. Floyd was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Floyd’s cause of death has not been released at this time.
Jones described the events in the video as “torture.”
I wouldnt wish the way George Floyd was murdered on my worst enemy. That officer applied just enough pressure to keep him alive for almost six minutes in that chokehold. In all my years of fighting I can honestly say I’ve never experienced anything close to that level of torture
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 27, 2020
After calling for a “nationwide policy change,” Jones said the officer should have gotten off Floyd when Floyd said he couldn’t breathe. Jones said an officer who can’t subdue a person in handcuffs by their feet, “probably shouldn’t be wearing that badge.”
Jones then talked about different choke holds in an attempt to explain why he believes Floyd’s death should be considered a murder.
Warning: The tweets posted below contain graphic language.
That whole if you can talk you can breathe crap is bullshit. What that man went through was worse than drowning
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 27, 2020
Anyone who has practiced the very basics of jujitsu recognizes a #bloodchoke when they see this. That was as clear as day #murder #torture
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 27, 2020
It’s the same exact concept as the OSP choke. The anxiety that man had to of been experiencing must’ve been excruciating
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 27, 2020
Jones said Floyd’s death should make every person in the United States angry. He then calls for “justice.”
The dude literally at one point cried out for his mother. That officer was disgusting and every other officer, Brown person white person, yellow, citizen in this country should be pissed off. We need justice.
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 27, 2020
A number of athletes have spoken out about Floyd’s death. LeBron James and Donté Stallworth both invoked Colin Kaepernick, saying the Floyd situation is exactly why athletes took a knee. Emmanuel Acho, Stephen Jackson, DeMarcus Lawrence and Torrey Smith also weighed in.
The four police officers involved have been fired. State and federal authorities are investigating the case, according to CNN.
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