Sports fans may have noticed certain athletes had red X's on their hands during competition this week, and it turns out there's a good reason for the bold statement.
Kyle Korver, Jennie Finch and Colt McCoy were just a few of the sports figures to tweet photos of themselves with the X drawn on their hands. As Korver explained after the Atlanta Hawks' game against the Celtics on Wednesday, the gesture is part of the End It Movement, which is fighting against slavery across the world.
This description is from the End It Movement's website:
This February 27th, join us and other Freedom Fighters from around the world as we SHINE A LIGHT ON SLAVERY. Draw a RED X on your hand. Tell your world that slavery still exists and YOU WON’T STAND FOR IT. Just use your influence any way you can to help us carry the message of FREEDOM so even more people know. Let’s make this SHINE A LIGHT ON SLAVERY DAY even brighter than ever."
The End It Movement's Twitter page posted lots of photos of athletes supporting the movement. Here are a few:
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Sam Acho
I am in it to END IT! http://t.co/3lNFBwdD34 @enditmovement @louiegiglio @NickBrandt #enditmovement pic.twitter.com/NSKL5ht9zz
— Sam Acho (@TheSamAcho) February 27, 2014
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colt McCoy
We want to raise our voice for the 27 million slaves in our world. Lets end it! #enditmovement http://t.co/wp29zP1T1E pic.twitter.com/LTA7HNuY7H
— Colt McCoy (@ColtMcCoy) February 27, 2014
Former softball star and Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch
Texas Rangers utility man Brent Lillibridge
@enditmovement: TODAY we stand together to SHINE A LIGHT ON SLAVERY for the 27 million. #enditmovement pic.twitter.com/TQ44RM9Xh9
— Brent Lillibridge (@BSLillibridge) February 27, 2014
San Francisco Giants pitcher Jeremy Affeldt
@NFS @enditmovement the only selfie i take pride in sending. The red X selfie boom! pic.twitter.com/TOvG1sitUZ
— Jeremy Affeldt (@JeremyAffeldt) February 28, 2014
Singer Carrie Underwood and her husband, Nashville Predators center Mike Fisher
Help us shine a light on slavery tomorrow by wearing a red X! We're in it to end it! #EndItMovement pic.twitter.com/GcmF0KzbQs
— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) February 27, 2014
According to a recent Washington Post article, there are 30 million people enslaved across the world.
“I think people assume that slavery is all in Asia somewhere, but it happens here in America all over the place,” Korver said. “It still exists. Real slavery happens here. It happens in factories, it happens with sex trafficking, in all different forms. I think most people, we think it’s a thing of the past. But 27 million people. That’s New York City times three. That’s a huge number.”
(H/T to For The Win)