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MLS stars raise fists, take a knee wearing masks in 8:46 minutes 'powerful protest' against police brutality

Players from both teams walked onto the pitch wearing black t-shirts, gloves and face masks in what was the first game to take place since the lockdown

A number of Major League Soccer (MLS) stars paid a tribute to George Floyd ahead of the tournament's return on Wednesday night, participating in a protest against racial injustice and police brutality as they showed their support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Players from teams across the league walked on to the pitch wearing black t-shirts, gloves, face masks in solidarity with the movement, shortly before Orlando City faced Inter Miami in what was the first MLS game to take place since Covid-19 shutdowns that came into effect in March.

The "powerful protest" lasted eight minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee against the neck of Floyd, an unarmed black man who later died in his custody.

Footage from Floyd's gruesome death sparked protests and demonstrations across the globe, as players raised their gloved right fists and took a knee prior to the start of the match Wednesday night in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

The athletes stood around in the field, and the two teams competing in Florida kneeled in the center circle in an impassioned display.

Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody on Memorial Day after being arrested over the use of a counterfeit note. As Chauvin kneeled on him, Floyd was recorded on camera pleading with officers that he "couldn't breathe". 44-year-old Derek Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, while three other officers involved in the arrest -- Thomas Lane, J.A. Kueng, and Tou Thao – have been charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder. All four former officers face 40 years in prison if convicted.

The tragic death of Floyd sparked demonstrations in cities across the United States and the globe. Meanwhile, the world of sports has had its own protests -- Premier League players have taken a knee at before games since the return of soccer. In Formula One, racing drivers like Lewis Hamilton also did the same when the tournament resumed at the Austrian Grand Prix. In cricket, players from England and the West Indies displayed support ahead of their test-series commencing at Southampton.

MLS players wanted to add their voices to the growing chorus, according to Toronto FC’s Justin Morrow, executive director of the Black Players for Change organization.

"This is a chance for us to take our place with them, stand up against racial inequality, fight that battle and make sure our voices in Major League Soccer are heard," he declared at half-time. "What you saw tonight was a special moment that was driven by the players, and Major League Soccer collaborated with us to make that happen."

Taking a knee during the national anthem was popularized in 2016 by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick as a protest against police brutality and racial injustice. Meanwhile, the raised fists gesture is inspired from protests led by Americans John Carlos and Tommie Smith at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.

However, the national anthem is not being played during the ongoing tournament because the games are being held in empty stadiums. The MLS tournament is being held inside a bio-secure 'bubble' at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida, as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.