British heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua has branded racism a "virus" at a Black Lives Matter march in Watford.
A recent knee injury wasn't going to stop Joshua from showing his support, as he joined the peaceful protest in his hometown on crutches, although he did have to use an electric scooter for part of the journey.
The demonstration was one of many that have taken place globally in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, kneeled on his neck for several minutes in Minneapolis last month.
After the march, Joshua, the WBA, IBF and WBO champion, delivered a powerful speech, which was also shared to his 11.3 million Instagram followers.
"The virus has been declared a pandemic, it is out of control, and I'm not actually talking about COVID-19. The virus I'm referring to is called racism.
"Killing a person outright is unforgivable. But stripping them of their human right, oppressing them, mocking them, insulting them, placing glass ceilings above them just because of what - their skin colour - is just a slower way of killing them and taking the life out of their soul.
"We must unite as a human race. We can no longer, from today onwards, sit back and remain silent on the senseless, unlawful killing, sly racism of another human being based on what? Only their skin colour.
"We need to speak out in peaceful demonstrations, just like this today.
"If you want to joke about who I am, where I come from, my heritage, my lips, my nose, my skin, the food I eat, don't feel too comfortable around me. Because I'm proud of who I am."
The 30-year-old also told people that violence isn't the answer if people want to make a change.
"We must not use a demonstration for selfish motives and turn it into rioting and looting. We need to be united in non-violent demonstration, show them where it hurts.
"Abstain from spending your money in their shops, and spend in economies that invest in black businesses. And that's for all communities if you want to uplift yourself. Invest in your own businesses.
"We have to engage with the youth and put an end to black youth gang culture.
"This postcode war, how many houses do we own on that postcode we're fighting for?
"Every life matters, 100 percent I agree with that. But that does include black lives, and that's why we're here today.
"George Floyd, we're all aware of his name, was the catalyst in a list that is already way, way, way too long. But ask yourself a question - how does the looting for the latest flat screen TV help him or his family?
"How does burning down shops or taking another life stop the virus from spreading? And remember the virus we're talking about is racism."
