Conor McGregor calls for compassion, understanding in wake of George Floyd protests

Conor McGregor has used his large platform to show solidarity with protesters in the wake of George Floyd’s death while in police custody.

Floyd, an African-American, was killed last week after a white Minneapolis police officer pinned him down by placing his knee on his neck for almost nine minutes. The officer responsible, Derek Chauvin, was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter after being fired from the police force; three other officers involved were also fired but currently are not facing charges.

Floyd’s death has resulted in violent protests across the U.S., with civil unrest leading to rioting, looting and vandalism in some cities as law enforcement, including the National Guard, has ramped up attempts to control the streets at the urging of President Donald Trump.

Protests also have sprung up worldwide. In McGregor’s home city of Dublin, more than 150 people engaged in a peaceful protest, showing their support for American protesters.

On Tuesday, the former UFC two-division champion took to social media to share a message condemning racism by releasing a statement on spoke at a Black Lives Matter rally in Auckland, New Zealand. UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell also have found themselves in the middle of turmoil. Jones was seen on video taking away spray paint canisters from would-be vandals in Albuquerque, N.M., while Liddell attempted to diffuse tension during a protest in Huntington Beach, Calif.

McGregor recently has been active in his campaign to help reduce the number of people affected by COVID-19 in Ireland, urging people to take the virus seriously and comply with restrictions.