A powerful moment ensued at Borussia-Park on Sunday with Marcus Thuram taking a knee after scoring for Borussia Monchengladbach in their game against Union Berlin. The 22-year-old got on the scoresheet to hand his side a 2-0 lead ahead of the first half break.
Earlier, Florian Neuhaus put Monchengladbach in the driving seat with a sensational strike in the 17th minute. The attacker dribbled his way through the Union defense and squeezed a shot in off the post for the team's 3,000th Bundesliga goal in history.
Thuram's moment came in the 41st minute, with the French striker linking up with his compatriot Alassane Plea for his 10th goal of the season. The forward subsequently celebrated by going down on a knee with his head down, a gesture reminiscent of American football quarterback Colin Kaepernick's famed protest stance which pays homage to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Monchengladbach ended the day with a 4-1 win, with Thuram adding a second after Sebastine Andersson had scored for the visitors. Plea also got the last goal in the emphatic win. Watch Marcus Thuram's goal and celebration below:
Plea and Thuram are quite a combo up top!
— Ja! Watch the Bundesliga live on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 31, 2020
Gladbach slice open Union Berlin to double their advantage near the break...
A great cross, a great team move! pic.twitter.com/hH9BN8QSmG
Powerful gesture from Marcus Thuram. His father Lilian, World Cup winner and anti-racism campaigner, gave a powerful talk at the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool in 2008, unforgettable to all of us privileged to be present. Impressive family - on and off the field. https://t.co/TCsKv4JbjO
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) May 31, 2020
Following the death of George Floyd on May 25, activists all over the world have been calling for justice for the 46-year-old Minneapolis resident who passed away after having a knee pressed into his neck by a white officer. The incident ensued while he was being arrested for an alleged forgery.
Since then, a series of protests and riots have greeted numerous parts of the United States of America. Sports personalities have also paid tributes to the deceased and added their voices to the cause on social media.
On Saturday, Schalke 04's American midfielder Weston McKennie wore an armband with the message "Justice for George" in his side's clash with Werder Bremen.
To be able to use my platform to bring attention to a problem that has been going on to long feels good!!! We have to stand up for what we believe in and I believe that it is time that we are heard! #justiceforgeorgefloyd #saynotoracism pic.twitter.com/TRB1AGm0Qx
— Weston McKennie (@WMckennie) May 30, 2020