Tiger Woods calls for ‘honest conversations’ not ‘burning’ neighborhoods in protests

Tiger Woods pressed those protesting the death of George Floyd to do so peacefully, arguing demonstrations for racial justice can be done “without burning the very neighborhoods that we live in” in a tweet to his more than 6.5 million followers.

“My heart goes out to George Floyd, his loved ones and all of us who are hurting right now,” Woods wrote in the Monday night tweet. “I have always had the utmost respect for our law enforcement. They train so diligently to understand how, when and where to use force. This shocking tragedy clearly crossed that line.”

Floyd died last week after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes. The officer is now facing murder and manslaughter charges. 

“I remember the [1992] LA riots and learned that education is the best path forward,” Woods wrote. “We can make our points without burning the very neighborhoods that we live in. I hope that through constructive, honest conversations we can build a safer, unified society.”

pic.twitter.com/Wn7EoTInzU

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) June 2, 2020

Woods, along with Harold Varner III, are the only two African Americans who rank in the top 200 of the World Golf Rankings.

Varner, 29, also released a statement on Monday.

“There is a lot of of beauty and love in this world,” Varner wrote on Twitter. “I pray for equality and social justice as we all so desperately deserve that in this day and age. I pray for humanity even more because regardless of color, WE need each other to make that change. Stay safe. Love you guys.”

There is a lot of of beauty and love in this world. I pray for equality & social justice as we all so desperately deserve that in this day and age. I pray for humanity even more because regardless of color, WE need each other to make that change. Stay safe. Love you guys ✊✊✊ pic.twitter.com/LrFEff94IF

— Harold Varner III (@HV3_Golf) June 1, 2020

Woods and Varner are set to play in the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 11, marking the first official tournament held by the PGA since the sport went dark due to the coronavirus pandemic in mid-March.