Nottingham Forest midfielder John Bostock has given an impassioned speech, offering his views on racism and his own experiences.
Thousands of people have taken part in Black Lives Matter protests across the country in recent days, following the death of George Floyd, in America.
Bostock, who is on loan with the Reds from Toulouse, posted a 10-minute video of himself discussing the subject on Instagram.
He said: “What’s been happening in America and around the world has stirred emotions and brought back feelings where you or others have been racially abused.
“I believe what we’re seeing now is not just a result of what’s happened in that one isolated incident, but it’s almost the welling up of emotions that’s been in our hearts for a long time.
“With the people that are angry, I’m angry with you. With the people that are hurting, I’m hurting with you. For those who grieve, I grieve with you.
“There is no excuse for racism, whatsoever.
“People say, ‘how can this still happen in 2020?’. The reality is we’re not even that far removed from the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s and 70s.
“We’re not far removed, in the greater scheme of history, from when slavery was legal.
“We’ve come a long way, but we have a long way to go.
“From what I’ve personally experienced in my life, I could never even try to compare my suffering with what other people have suffered or are suffering - not just now, but in history.
“People have been abused for their skin colour.
“I’ve been racially abused to a point where I was brought to tears as a young man.
“But I could never, ever try to begin to compare what I’ve been through to others.
“But all racism is wrong; in football, outside of football, in culture - it’s wrong."
He continued: “Of course we should fight racism, of course we should tackle it head on and we should post and protest because there has to be change.
“But the solution is to change hearts. And the only way hearts can change, the only one I know who can change hearts, is the one who made hearts. That’s the Lord.
“Only God can change hearts.
“We can educate (about racism), we can try to convince and try to stir change - which is good, which is what we should do.
“But just remember that it’s a heart issue and the battle is sin. The only way that sin can be conquered is through what Jesus Christ has done on the cross. He died so that we can be free from the power of sin, so that we could live a life of love, not hatred.”
Bostock says it is love which can bring about “real change” as he believes "the Gospel is the only answer".
In the video, he continued: “The remedy for hatred is never hatred. The remedy for hatred isn’t just education - although it is so helpful.
“The remedy for hatred is love.
“I encourage you, love those around you, love your neighbour, love your friends.
“But I want to challenge you to take it a step further - love your enemies.
“The Bible says, ‘bless those who curse you’.
“Anyone can love people who love them. But I ask you to take it a step further, because it’s love that will win and will conquer.
“I just wanted to send this message and let you know I’m standing with you. I’m standing with us, as a people - I am black, but I am white, I am a man, I’m God’s.
“I just wanted to send this message just as an encouragement - let’s not forget the Gospel in this.
“We should fight for change and I stand for change, and I cry out and pray for change.
“But I know the solution has already been displayed, in Jesus Christ coming and dying.
“That’s the only way people’s hearts can be changed - if they look to God and they allow him to give his heart, because God hates racism. Jesus didn’t die for one race or for one people.
“The Bible says that, ‘for God so loved the world’. The world, the WORLD - Asians, Africans, Europeans, Americans. The world.
“For God so loved the WORLD that he gave his only son, in order that the world would be restored and people would have a chance to be forgiven and be set free and be able to love.
“I’m sending you my love and my support. I’m praying for change and I stand with you guys.”
