Nelson Mandela’s grandson said the late South African leader “would have admired” the current Black Lives Matter movement.
“We are seeing a shift in global politics in the sense that oppressed nations, through the Black Lives Matter, have now been given a voice to be heard,” Nkosi Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela said.
The younger Mandela, who is a South African member of Parliament, made the remarks during a Tuesday interview with Sky News.
“To speak out against injustices as well as the gross violations of human rights; whether that be in America, Britain, or Australia, whether that be in Palestine, Western Sahara, or Kashmir, they are beginning to have a platform to voice out,” he added.
The Black Lives Matter movement has gained considerable traction since the death of George Floyd. A recent poll found that 57% of U.S. adults hold a favorable view of Black Lives Matter, a large increase from when the same survey found only 27% of people supported Black Lives Matter in 2016.
Protests began across the United States after footage was released that showed a white police officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck on Memorial Day for nearly nine minutes while Floyd, a black man, pleaded to breathe. Floyd died in police custody, and all officers involved in the incident have been charged with crimes. Protests have since spread worldwide as demonstrators call attention to systemic racism and police brutality.
“When you move out and look at how these have sparked many protests around the world, it’s the realization that many people are now beginning to see that they can no longer be silent,” Mandela said. “Being silent is being complicit to what is actually happening around the globe.”
