Following an official statement by the Vancouver Canucks and teammate Troy Stecher, Bo Horvat is adding his support to the anti-racism cause.
Using the hashtags #BlackLivesMatter and #DifferentTogether, the Canucks captain admitted that he’s not well-suited to discuss the subject but that he didn’t want to remain silent. Horvat acknowledged that society needs to do better and work together to find “justice, peace and love.”
#BlackLivesMatter #DifferentTogether pic.twitter.com/GhwIqaKVWN
— Bo Horvat (@BoHorvat) June 1, 2020
“As an athlete we are often asked to provide our opinion on things that happen on the ice, in a locker-room…it usually feels familiar to us, or at the very least like something we are qualified to speak to,” Horvat said.
“Relating to and discussing the severe pain, and frustration so many are feeling right now is something I know I am not well suited to discuss. But the opinion that it is easier to say nothing, is a part of this problem that has gone on for far too long.
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“My deepest condolences go out to the family of George Floyd and the countless other senseless victims of racism. I’m not going to pretend that I know what people of colour are going through, but what I do know is there needs to be change… that we need to do better, that we need to work together to find justice, peace and love. It should go without saying, but we all need to do our part and say it more: I stand for anti-racism and take the #DifferentTogether Pledge.”
Horvat’s statement comes just days after Vancouver native and San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane called on white athletes to not be silent on the matter. Since then, a number of usually reserved hockey players have spoken up about racism, including Logan Couture, Auston Matthews, Anze Kopitar, Blake Wheeler, and Jonathan Toews.