[autotag]Devin Clark[/autotag] was the first fighter to protest Saturday night during UFC 250, showing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
Floyd, an African-American, was killed May 25 by white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who has been charged with unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter after video showed him applying force with his knee to Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. Three other officers involved have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.
The case has sparked protests worldwide, and Clark displayed his own. He took a knee – shades of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick – and raised his fist in the air while being introduced by in-cage announcer Bruce Buffer before his fight with Alonzo Menifield.
UFC light heavyweight Devin Clark took a knee and raised his fist during his intro at #UFC250 pic.twitter.com/P4PHBKQIXp
— ESPN (@espn) June 6, 2020
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Clark’s show of solidarity came one day after UFC president Dana White said he supports fighters exercising their freedom of speech.
Clark came away a winner Saturday, handing Menifield his first career loss with a hard-fought unanimous decision.
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