Devin Clark 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.
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.
