Vancouver Whitecaps' Tosaint Ricketts on player activism: "It starts with us"

Whitecaps' Ricketts on player activism: "It starts with us"

Tosaint Ricketts - portrait against black background - use only for special posts

Vancouver Whitecaps forward Tosaint Ricketts posted a statement on Twitter on Thursday, imploring athletes to use their platforms to speak out on the issues of police brutality and institutionalized racism.


"It starts with us," wrote Ricketts. "We have a platform where our voices can be heard, and moments where a team comes together, people from all around the world, different cultures, different races, different nationalities, different beliefs, different religions, we can collectively be one, and accomplish goals."


Those words echo the sentiment expressed by Inter Miami CF goalkeeper Luis Robles, who told reporters on Thursday he's hoping players throughout the league will continue to use their platform to speak on these issues when the season gets back underway in Orlando.


Ricketts and the Whitecaps also knelt in solidarity with the protesters around the world at their training session on Thursday. Read his whole statement below.