Simone Biles Just Spoke About Breonna Taylor, Colin Kaepernick, and Black Lives Matter
Simone Biles is the most decorated—and arguably the most popular—gymnast in history. She's often been known to use her massive platform to speak out on the issues that matter the most to her. Right now that includes the Black Lives Matter movement and the killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery.
In a new interview with Vogue, Biles opened up on the current state of affairs across America and the racial justice protests.
“We need change,” she said. “We need justice for the Black community. With the peaceful protests it’s the start of change, but it’s sad that it took all of this for people to listen. Racism and injustice have existed for years with the Black community. How many times has this happened before we had cell phones?”
“With everyone speaking up and the traction that Ahmaud and George are getting,” Biles said on what would have been Taylor's 27th birthday, “Breonna will be remembered. She’s going to find justice. They’re already reopening her case. I’m happy for that. But I just don’t understand. She was sleeping. How do you feel threatened when you’re a police officer and they’re sleeping? Come on now.”
“We tried peaceful protesting. Then Colin Kaepernick—he lost his job. He lost his career. They took his whole entire career away from that poor man. And look at us now,” she continued, discussing how some were debating the techniques used by protestors. “It’s working. You just have to be the first and people will follow.
This isn't the first time Biles has publicly supported Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback who has been without a job since he was criticized for kneeling during the national anthem in protest of police violence against Black people. When then newly installed USA Gymnastics president, Mary Bono, criticized Nike for including Kaepernick in a campaign in a now deleted tweet—Biles was quick to call her out. (Bono eventually resigned.)
Biles continues to prove she's the greatest—both on the gymnastics floor and off.
Originally Appeared on Glamour
