On Saturday, Osaka won the US Open in a thrilling three-set final. She took this tournament as an opportunity to make a statement.
Osaka, 22, wore a face mask displaying the names of different black victims of racist violence in the US.
When asked the purpose behind such masks, the tennis star said, "I feel like the point is to make people start talking."
1. Breonna Taylor
In her first-round match against Misaki Doi, Osaka wore a mask in honour of Breonna Taylor.
Taylor was an EMT and aspiring nurse. She was killed in her own home in March. Three plainclothes Louisville police officers executing a "no-knock" warrant returned gunfire after Taylor's boyfriend had fired a warning shot because he thought he was shooting at intruders.
Osaka told reporters, "I'm aware that tennis is watched all over the world, and maybe there is someone that doesn't know Breonna Taylor's story. Maybe they'll like Google it or something."
"For me, just spreading awareness. I feel like the more people know the story, then the more interesting or interested they'll become in it."
2. Elijah McClain
Last August, a 23-year-old massage therapist, was stopped by three officers in the Denver suburb of Aurora while he was walking home from a convenience store with an iced tea.
McClain was placed in a carotid hold, which restricts blood flow to the brain, told the Adams County District Attorney said. Three days later McClain was declared brain dead.
3. Ahmaud Arbery
Arbery was a 25-year-old unarmed Black man. He died after he was chased by two White men while jogging in Brunswick, Georgia. According to the authorities, Arbery was shot three times.
4. Trayvon Martin
Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old who was fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida in 2012 as he walked home from a convenience store carrying iced tea and Skittles.
"I'm not sure what I would be able to do if I was in their position," said Osaka.
"I feel like I'm a vessel at this point in order to spread awareness and it's not going to dull the pain, but hopefully I can help with anything that they need."
5. George Floyd
In her match against Shelby Rogers, Osaka wore Floyd face mask.
The unarmed Black man who died in Minneapolis after an officer, who was called because a store owner believed Floyd had used a counterfeit bill to pay, pinned him to the ground by kneeling on his neck for several minutes.
6. Philando Castile
Osaka arrives for her semifinal against Jennifer Brady. Castile was fatally shot in July 2016 by Minnesota police officer Jeronimo Yanez at a traffic stop. Yanez was later found not guilty.
7. Tamir Rice
On September 12, 2020, in her final round, Osaka paid tribute to Tamir Rice.
A 12-year-old boy who was killed by police gunfire in Cleveland, Ohio in November 2014 while he was holding a toy replica pistol. The two officers responsible for the crime said in written statements in 2015 they thought Rice was pulling out a real gun from his waistband. A grand jury declined to indict either of the officers.
In 2016, the city of Cleveland said it would pay $6 million to settle a federal lawsuit filed by Rice's family.
About the Author
Prakriti S is a foodie, wildlife photographer, geo-politics enthusiast, and a woman activist.
Comments