BRITISH boxing hero Anthony Joshua said “we can no longer remain silent” and branded racism a “virus” as he joined a Black Lives Matter march in his hometown of Watford.
The demonstration was one of many that have taken place in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis last week.
And his recent knee injury was not going to stop AJ doing his bit to support the fight for racial equality with Joshua marching on crutches.
The 30-year-old was one of many peaceful protesters to take to the streets on Saturday, and streamed a series of powerful speeches to his 11.3million followers on Instagram.
And Watford will also do its bit, with the local Town Hall set to turn purple this evening in solidarity with the movement.
Wearing a Black Lives Matter hoodie, Joshua managed to smile through the discomfort in his knee.
And he even addressed the assembled crowd through a microphone as they rallied against social injustice.
AJ said: “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.”
And in a direct message to those who have blighted the movement by turning protest into looting, the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO champ called on all involved to stop damaging the cause.
He added: “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 per cent 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.”
Joshua broke off from his prepared speech with an impromptu message to the youngsters across the UK turning to gang crime.
Having narrowly avoided being dragged into the scene as a youngster himself, AJ delivered a stark warning.
He added: “I’m going to be real with you about gang culture. I’m down to ride 100 per cent, but we have to realise it’s done, trust me.
“Unless you want to be sitting in jail, spending years upon years of your only life that you have thinking ‘yeah they can lock the locks but they can’t stop the clocks’, that’s all done.
“There’s too many cameras, too much intelligence. All the OGs I know are telling me ‘bro, it’s finished, it’s finished’.
“Gang life is finished and that’s what we’re saying. I know I’m not promoting no gangster business.
“I’m a legit straight forward hustler, that’s just in my DNA, my blood, but I’ve taken my street knowledge and put it into the corporate world and I’ve gained a lot of respect in that sense.
“Gang culture is done.”
In the background of the heavyweight king, powerful placards could be seen, featuring messages including “Silence is Violence” and “Black + Proud”.
While Joshua was seen hobbling around on crutches – he also took to a mobility scooter at one point to get around more quickly.
He was first seen wearing the leg brace earlier this week, as he zoomed around central London on a mobility scooter among friends.
And with fans worried about their hero’s injury, a source said: “Anthony felt a slight twinge in his knee while training.
“The brace is a precautionary measure on the advice of physios.
“It will be further checked by his doctors but there is no immediate concern.”
Joshua is expected to fight Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev before the end of the year – with a mouthwatering heavyweight unification bout with Tyson Fury to come in 2021.
