Evander Holyfield joined Black Lives Matter protest Friday

With protests continuing in the streets of the United States, and all over the world involving racial Injustice, former Heavyweight Champion of the World, Evander Holyfield, decided to join in on one in Miami Friday afternoon.

The 57 year old Holyfield was part of a peaceful “Black Lives Matter” walking demonstration on Highway 441 in Broward County, Florida, north of Miami.

As the four-time Heavyweight Champion tweeted out, he walked over to an intersection to the approximately 100 protesters to lead them in the “Lord’s Prayer” and then, gave them encouragement about what they were doing:

Praying for peace and unity. ✌?❤ pic.twitter.com/FWFLBIiIDB

— Evander Holyfield (@holyfield) June 6, 2020

Daily and nightly protests, at times violently turning to riots, have happened in dozens and dozens of cities across the United States and have gone on for the past nine days. This after video emerged of Minneapolis Police officer, Derek Chauvin, using his knee to lean on the neck and head of George Floyd for over 8 minutes, killing him while in their custody.

The Friday afternoon South Florida protest was mostly made up of young individuals under the age of 30, who at one point actually laid in the middle of street with their arms behind their back to symbolize the death of Floyd.

Holyfield, who first won the Heavyweight Championship 30 years ago, spoke to a local Miami television station about why he decided to get involved Friday,

“This is important, because the “golden promise” is to do unto others as you want them to do unto you. In a situation like this, you wouldn’t have to have policemen, because you wouldn’t do nothing (sic) that you wouldn’t have done to you.” 

Even in his late 50s, Holyfield has announced intentions to come out of retirement to fight at least one, and maybe more, exhibition boxing matches later in the year.

Holyfield, 44-10-2, was last in the ring in May of 2011 and holds the only distinction of having gained the heavyweight championship four times in career that saw him defeat the likes of Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe, and George Foreman.

Holyfield also recently announced the launch of his own charitable foundation and his involvement with a newly-created children’s initiative called Unite4OurFight.org. That program is specifically tailored to helping kids with all facets of present-day life, including education, activities and mental well-being.

Holyfield has been prominent throughout his career as an advocate for the Boys & Girls Clubs Of America and continues to want to give back and help children.

And, that’s the same empathy and compassion he showed for the protestors Friday.