Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has shared his hope that the recent slew of protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement can inspire permanent change for the better.
The demonstrations, which have spanned the globe, began following the death of African-American George Floyd in police custody in Minnesota just over a week ago.
Mr Floyd died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes during the process of arresting him, footage of which was caught on camera by a bystander.
The police officer in question, Derek Chauvin, has since been charged with second-degree murder, while three of his colleagues have also been charged with aiding and abetting.
This series of events has prompted difficult conversations over structural racism and inequality both in the United States and further afield, and Alexander-Arnold is hoping to see genuine societal change as a result.
George Floyd Hyde Park Protest - In pictures
He told Sky Sports: “I hope we’re living in a moment in history that’s massive, I hope that this is the moment where we see real change and permanent change.
“I hope this is the moment and that we see real equality for every race and every gender but I can’t tell you that right now, I don’t know if things are going to change.
“But I know, and you can see from the powerful messages from everyone - messages from people with massive platforms and the amazing numbers doing the protests - that a lot of people want change.
“I think it’s something that is vitally needed, it’s something that shouldn’t be happening in this modern day. It’s disappointing to see stuff like this still going on.
“That’s all anyone really wants is change, and you can see that and see how powerfully the messages are coming across.
“Everyone is doing what they can to [bring] that change and hopefully we are at a moment in history that will see permanent change.”
