NBA legend Michael Jordan made the biggest pledge ever made by a sports figure to non-profit charities. He announced that he would donate 100 million dollars (88.5 million euros) " over the next 10 years to organizations dedicated to ensuring race equality, social justice and better access to education ".
The personal fortune of Jordan, considered the greatest player in NBA history and owner of the Charlotte Hornets franchise, is estimated to be $ 2.1 billion (1.86 billion euros).
The importance of this donation testifies to the intense emotion aroused by the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, during his arrest on May 25 in Minneapolis (Minnesota), which set the country ablaze for ten days with demonstrations turning into clashes.
"It is 2020, and our Jordan family includes everyone who aspires to our way of life. Although many things have changed, the worst behaviors persist. Black Lives Matter (black life matters). This is not a controversial claim. As long as this ingrained racism that causes the bankruptcy of our country's institutions is not completely eradicated, we will continue to be committed to protecting and improving the lives of black people. "
Very reluctant during his playing career to speak up to protest against racial or societal problems in the United States, a silence for which he has often been criticized, the former Chicago Bulls star expressed his anger the week passed after the death of Floyd, joining the choir of the very many sportsmen to have been indignant.
Many donations to the National Bail Fund Network
In solidarity with the rallies, several American celebrities have announced that they will donate hundreds of thousands of dollars, in particular to pay the bail for the arrested demonstrators. The comedy series team Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which depicts life in a New York police station, has announced that it will donate $ 100,000 to a dedicated fund, the National Bail Fund Network.
The Blake Lively couple (Gossip Girl) and Ryan Reynolds (Dead Pool) said he donated $ 200,000 (€ 177,124) to the legal aid fund of the NAACP, the largest black rights organization in the United States.
Accustomed to acidic tweets directed at Donald Trump, the model and television presenter Chrissy Teigen also got involved. If she first announced on Twitter to give 100,000 dollars "For the sureties of demonstrators across the country", she decided to double the bet after a user accused her of supporting "Rioters and criminals". "Oh they're going to need more money then. It will be 200,000 ", she replied.
