US football captain wears rainbow armband in support of Orlando victims
The captain of the US men’s national football team has worn a rainbow armband in support of the victims of the Orlando mass shooting.
Michael Bradley wore the “one nation” armband in a quarterfinals match of the Copa America, in which his team took on Ecuador.
“Obviously it’s an incredibly sad week for our country, for the LGBT community,” Bradley said following the game.
Image: Twitter
“You know, we all feel a big sense of responsibility every time we represent our country, and I think wearing that armband was the best way to represent our country tonight.”
As well as Bradley’s gesture, US Soccer released a video in support of the community in Orlando on Wednesday.
United States men’s national team captain Michael Bradley wore a rainbow captain’s armband in support of the victims of the Orlando shooting.
Bradley donned the colorful armband instead of the typical yellow as his squad takes on Ecuador in the quarterfinals of the Copa America.
Early Sunday morning, 49 people were killed in mass shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. Bradley joins the outpouring of support from around the sports world for the victims of the worse shooting ever in the United States.
There was also a moment of silence held before the game, which has been done at every Copa America game since the shooting.
“Obviously it’s an incredibly sad week for our country, for the LGBT community,” Bradley said after the match.
“You know, we all feel a big sense of responsibility every time we represent our country, and I think wearing that armband was the best way to represent our country tonight.”
Bradley’s gesture comes on the heels of U.S. Soccer releasing a video showing its support for Orlando on Wednesday.
49 people were killed and 53 injured on Sunday in the shocking terrorist hate crime attack,which saw a gunman open fire inside The Pulse gay bar in Orlando, Florida.
ISIS has since claimed responsibility for the attack, which was perpetrated by US citizen Omar Mateen. The majority of the victims were Latino.
In a statement, President Obama mourned the victims of the homophobic hate crime attack and called for greater restrictions on arms sales.
In response, Republican nominee Donald Trump said Obama should resign for failing to rally against Islam in his comments.
The attack has been condemned by American Muslim leaders, who addressed ISIS in saying: “You do not speak for us.”
But millions of people around the world have showed solidarity with the victims of the shooting and the community in Orlando,
Earlier this week, a threat was posted to Craigslist in San Diego, praising the shooting in Orlando, and reading: “San Diego, you’re next”.
Two US Marines are also being investigated for posting a photo with an assault rifle with the caption “Coming to a gay bar near you” on Facebook.
