UFC heavyweight Ben Rothwell was born and lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the city where Jacob Blake was shot by police under controversial circumstances, setting off a series of protests. Rothwell then shared a pro-BLM message on his social network, captioned: I found this really helpful. I hope we can all come together, and have some understanding. Listen-learn-apply.
The message read:
For my all lives matter friends:
When the Boston marathon was bombed, and everybody’s profile picture changed to Boston Strong, nobody said all cities are strong.
When the Las Vegas shooting happened, people changed their profiles to Stand with Vegas, nobody said Stand with Everywhere.
Have you ever seen someone counter a breast cancer post with wait, what about colon cancer?
But for some reason if someone say black lives matter it turns into an all inclusive all lives matter.
This is not an either/or proclamation. When there is a crisis we have always rallied around that particular group/city/cause. It does not diminish any other group/city/cause, it just brings awareness and support to where it is needed.
Nobody is saying all lives don’t matter, but right now our black friends, families, colleagues, neighbors, and strangers need our support.
Rothwell is on Fight Island, Abu Dhabi, ahead of his fight Saturday night on the main card of UFC on ESPN+ 37, and was asked by reporters about Kenosha.
I had the fight booked when the nonsense went down in Kenosha, so it’s been on my mind. It’s on my mind now, replied Rothwell. It’s been asked a couple of times before I got here. And don’t expect any great interview today because [it ’s a] bad time.
My city got terrorized and the city got shattered. I put myself right in the middle. I love people on both sides. And I got ripped to shreds by some, but I held my ground because I believe in my community.
People don’t understand this bubble that I created for myself ten years ago in my gym and it’s the closest thing I’ve got to world peace. I’ve got so many cultures, so many colours, come to my gym, we don’t care what their jobs are. They come to my gym, we work together, we do mixed martial arts together, it’s a beautiful thing. And I guess that’s what it’s taught me about life and if I can do it in that gym why can’t we all do it?
H/t Tim Bissell for BE
