Racial Tension Rampant In Jacksonville After Black Boys Are Kicked Out Of Fair For Wearing Memorial Apparel

An 18-year-old black man and his friend were kicked out of the Greater Jacksonville Agriculture Fair, without refund or apology, for their attire. 

The two friends, who are members of the black male empowerment group, EVAC, were going about their business on November 3 when police officers approached one of them and questioned the chain he was wearing around his neck. The jewelry honored his late mother. The officers said the chain was "gang-related" apparel.

"There were like four officers. They approached us, and the first one told us to pull up my pants, and the second one told my friend and said, 'Let me see that,’ and he told him that it was his mom and it wasn’t even his friend, it was his mom," he told News4Jax. "They told us to get out."

The next day, one of the guys headed back to the fair to double-check the rule board for any established rules around attire. There were none. Then, he called to clarify he has yet to see any rules that justify the reason for him and his friend's removal from the fair. 

Shortly after his phone call, a sign prohibiting "memorial clothing or jewelry" was posted. According to News4Jax, fair officials claim the sign was put up before the fair opened October 31.

 

racial profiling. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>“It’s used purposely to prey upon and keep out African-Americans in the community,” Donofrio said. On the contrary, Gayle Hart, a spokeswoman for the fair, said this is a sensitive situation that has caused a lot of grief. Hart also said the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office banned the clothing and jewelry because it's associated with "bad behavior."

racial profiling. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>“It said we can’t wear them. Basically, no necklaces, none of that,” said Jarod Mills, a Lee High School senior, about the school's decision. “They don’t feel it’s appropriate for the school.”

racial profiling. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>

racial profiling.\u003C/a> Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>The incident has sparked tensions in the Jacksonville community between civilians and police. Amy Donofrio, the founder of EVAC, is calling the case for what it is: racial profiling.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp content='The incident has created great tension in the community, with a mentor for the teens, Amy Donofrio, calling it a case of \u003Ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tagged/racial-profiling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">racial profiling.\u003C/a> Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>“It’s used purposely to prey upon and keep out African-Americans in the community,” Donofrio said. On the contrary, Gayle Hart, a spokeswoman for the fair, said this is a sensitive situation that has caused a lot of grief. Hart also said the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office banned the clothing and jewelry because it's associated with "bad behavior."\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp content='The incident has created great tension in the community, with a mentor for the teens, Amy Donofrio, calling it a case of \u003Ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tagged/racial-profiling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">racial profiling.\u003C/a> Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>The banning of "memorial clothing and jewelry" did not just stop at the fair but \u003Ca href=\"https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/jacksonville/lee-high-school-students-reminded-not-to-wear-anything-with-rip\">matriculated to Robert E. Lee high\u003C/a> school, as well. The high school's officials told News4Jax the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/jacksonville/lee-high-school-students-reminded-not-to-wear-anything-with-rip\">reason for banning the items\u003C/a> is because "gang-affiliated clothing and paraphernalia is unacceptable," referring to any R.I.P. attire. \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp content='The incident has created great tension in the community, with a mentor for the teens, Amy Donofrio, calling it a case of \u003Ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tagged/racial-profiling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">racial profiling.\u003C/a> Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>“It said we can’t wear them. Basically, no necklaces, none of that,” said Jarod Mills, a Lee High School senior, about the school's decision. “They don’t feel it’s appropriate for the school.”\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp content='The incident has created great tension in the community, with a mentor for the teens, Amy Donofrio, calling it a case of \u003Ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tagged/racial-profiling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">racial profiling.\u003C/a> Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>The west Jacksonville school has yet to comment on the ban, and its attempt to shut down the students' expression in honoring lost loved ones has been the tip of the iceberg and caused several students to organize protests. \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp content='The incident has created great tension in the community, with a mentor for the teens, Amy Donofrio, calling it a case of \u003Ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tagged/racial-profiling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">racial profiling.\u003C/a> Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp content='The incident has created great tension in the community, with a mentor for the teens, Amy Donofrio, calling it a case of \u003Ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tagged/racial-profiling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">racial profiling.\u003C/a> Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Jacksonville Fair, Gayle Hart, called it a “sensitive” situation that has unfortunately “caused a lot of grief.”’ data-reactid=”32″ type=”text”>\u003Cem>Now, check these out:\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/employees-at-a-frozen-yogurt-shop-called-cops-on-an-unwanted-subject-that-subject-was-a-black-man\">Employees At A Frozen Yogurt Shop Called Cops On An 'Unwanted Subject.' That 'Subject' Was A Black Man.\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/maryland-couple-racially-profiled-while-buying-refrigerator-files-4m-lawsuit\">Maryland Couple Racially Profiled While Shopping At Costco Files $4M Lawsuit\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/a-black-teen-was-arrested-for-wearing-a-hoodie-in-a-memphis-mall-and-so-was-the-person-defending-him\">A Black Teen Was Arrested For Wearing A Hoodie In A Memphis Mall And So Was The Person Defending Him\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n",[23],{"name":24,"slug":25,"id":26},"News","news",83,[28],{"id":29,"name":30,"slug":31,"description":10,"image":10},29035,"Tallahassee, Florida","tallahassee-florida",{"url":33,"thumbnail":33,"credit":34,"title":10,"alt":10,"type":35},"https://res.cloudinary.com/blavity/image/upload/v1543442533/ow5walspoe9xknpc4kwz","Twitter","image","2018-11-28T16:43:57-05:00","default",[],false,{"disableAd":39,"disableConnatixPlayer":39,"enabledComments":41,"headScript":42},true,null,"https://storage.googleapis.com/blavitynews/images/fallback.jpg","article","2026-01-26T12:42:10.004Z",{"list":47,"total":172},[48,97,133],{"id":49,"author":50,"authors":60,"title":62,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":63,"body":64,"categories":65,"tags":78,"featuredMedia":87,"publishedAt":93,"updatedAt":94,"type":37,"listicle":95,"disableContentGate":39,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":39,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":96},72895053,{"id":51,"avatar":52,"firstName":53,"lastName":54,"displayName":55,"email":56,"username":57,"normalizedUsername":58,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":59},99833,"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3995-compress.jpeg","Jahaura","Michelle","Jahaura Michelle","[email protected]","JahauraMichelle","jahauramichelle","2023-04-03T03:43:50+00:00",[61],{"id":51,"avatar":52,"firstName":53,"lastName":54,"displayName":55,"email":56,"username":57,"normalizedUsername":58,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":59},"UNLV's Win Over LSU Tiger Girls At UDA Nationals Sparks Passionate Discourse On TikTok","unlv-wins-over-lsu-tiger-girls-uda-tiktok","\n\u003Cp>The \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/colin-hurley-lsu-family-update-after-car-crash\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Louisiana State University\u003C/a> (LSU) Tigers Girls’ dance team recently lost to the University of Nebraska Las Vegas (UNLV) in the hip-hop category for a second year in a row at the UDA National Championship. Their victory has since sparked a social media debate over which team deserved to win, a discussion on the danceform being rooted in Black communities, and whether gender-based standards should be adopted moving forward.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-university-dance-association-s-collegiate-national-championships-explained\">The University Dance Association’s Collegiate National Championships, explained\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The 2026 University Dance Association’s Collegiate National Championships for cheerleading and dance were held Jan. 16 through Jan. 18 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Hundreds of college teams from across the country competed in multiple categories for a national championship, \u003Ca href=\"https://dancespirit.com/uda-college-dance-nationals-2026/#gsc.tab=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dance Spirit\u003C/a> reported.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The teams featured in the competition are based on university size and NCAA status, which includes Division IA, Division I and Open. Each division comprises seven to 20 female and male cheerleaders and seven to 30 dancers. While cheerleading has its own rules, the dance competition is judged primarily on “choreography, technique, execution and overall effect,” according to a \u003Ca href=\"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2025-uca--uda-college-cheerleading-and-dance-team-national-championship-honors-top-teams-302356565.html#:~:text=The%20elite%20competition%2C%20produced%20by,Walt%20Disney%20World%C2%AE%20Resort.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">news release\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://www.varsity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25-26-College-Dance-Divisions-v3.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Varsity.com\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>According to Varsity.com, “Regional Teams who participate in the competition will have the opportunity to compete in two of the three categories (Pom, Jazz, Hip Hop). Dance teams are allowed to compete in two traditional categories and one game day division. Teams may not compete in one traditional category and two game day divisions.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-details-on-unlv-s-and-lsu-s-dance-routines-and-past-competitions\">Details on UNLV’s and LSU’s dance routines and past competitions\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For the UDA competition, UNLV’s co-ed dance team, The Rebel Girls & Co., won the national championship for the second consecutive year, earning first place in Division IA’s game-day and hip-hop categories. In the latter, they defeated the LSU Tigers’ all-girls team, also a Division IA team, after both sides showed off their best moves in hopes of a victory.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTrDXwGDXt0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\u003Cdiv style=\"padding:16px;\"> \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTrDXwGDXt0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\u003Cdiv> \u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003C/a>\u003Cp style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTrDXwGDXt0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Hillside Visuals | Videography | Photography | Flyers | Content (@hillsidevisuals)\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\u003C/div>\u003C/blockquote>\n\u003Cscript async src=\"//www.instagram.com/embed.js\">\u003C/script>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Rebel Girls & Co.’s routine was a hip-hop mashup of early 2000s hits, while the LSU Tigers drew inspiration from Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, performing their own mashup of the Compton rapper’s hits.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTwc4YSjOnt/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\u003Cdiv style=\"padding:16px;\"> \u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTwc4YSjOnt/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 19% 0;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\">\u003Csvg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https://www.w3.org/2000/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\">\u003Cg stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\">\u003Cg transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\">\u003Cg>\u003Cpath d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\">\u003C/path>\u003C/g>\u003C/g>\u003C/g>\u003C/svg>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\u003Cdiv> \u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\">\u003C/div> \u003Cdiv style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003C/a>\u003Cp style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTwc4YSjOnt/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by LSU Tiger Girls- TG UNIT (@lsutigergirls)\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\u003C/div>\u003C/blockquote>\n\u003Cscript async src=\"//www.instagram.com/embed.js\">\u003C/script>\u003Cscript async src=\"//www.instagram.com/embed.js\">\u003C/script>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While the Tigers have always finished second in the hip-hop dance category, they have gone viral repeatedly at their competitions. Meanwhile, UNLV has a collection of prior championship titles. The recent win marked the team’s seventh hip-hop and game-day national championships since 2013.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Rebel Girls & Co. won first place in the same categories last year and previously won consecutive hip-hop and game day championships in 2018 and 2019, according to the team’s website and the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/unlv/back-to-back-unlv-dance-team-places-first-at-national-championship-3609070/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Las Vegas Review-Journal\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-social-media-saying-about-the-two-teams\">What is social media saying about the two teams?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Their recent win last weekend has sparked discourse on social media, as many people have already taken sides on which team deserved the title. On TikTok, user Maya Williams (@mayawilliams5653) spoke out about the UDA and how they have made inroads regarding diversity among female and male dancers. However, she questioned whether the hip-hop category is “appreciation or appropriation.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@mayawilliams5653/video/7597064278214069535\" data-video-id=\"7597064278214069535\" data-embed-from=\"oembed\" style=\"max-width:605px; min-width:325px;\"> \u003Csection> \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" title=\"@mayawilliams5653\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@mayawilliams5653?refer=embed\">@mayawilliams5653\u003C/a> \u003Cp>Truly enjoyed watching what everyone brought to the mat but we also need to look at the gaps \u003Ca title=\"udanationals\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/udanationals?refer=embed\">#udanationals\u003C/a> \u003Ca title=\"fyp\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp?refer=embed\">#fyp\u003C/a> \u003C/p> \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" title=\"♬ original sound - Maya Williams\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7597069573766220575?refer=embed\">♬ original sound – Maya Williams\u003C/a> \u003C/section> \u003C/blockquote> \u003Cscript async src=\"https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js\">\u003C/script>\n\u003C/div>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Hip-hop is a Black art form that was created by Black and brown communities, and that includes the influence of Caribbean and Latino communities,” Williams said in her TikTok video. “And so where the sticky pieces come is that leadership is still overwhelmingly white at UDA. I think it’s important to have these conversations so that history does not repeat itself.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Williams continued, stating that leadership falls under judges, coaches and choreographers who are “profiting off of the hip-hop culture” within the UDA space. In the comments section, user shared their thoughts on which team deserved to win, continuing the discussion about race and music culture.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“The way I thought the whole team was poc based off their complexions at the competition until I looked up the team,” one user wrote, including an official photo of the LSU Tigers dance team.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“One gave hip hop and one gave LA hip hop dance class,” another wrote.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“I’m glad I’m on this side UNLV gave AUTHENTIC hip hop,” a third user wrote.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In a \u003Ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@mayawilliams5653/video/7597087905932201246?_r=1&_t=ZT-93G6fdICxbB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">subsequent post\u003C/a>, Williams also addressed claims that UNLV only won because it had men on the team. She said that young men were often not allowed to dance, especially in the Black community. The Rebel Girls & Co. team consists of mixed-race men and women.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Another TikToker, @dollfacedajania, also addressed the LSU and UNLV debate but discussed how UDA had “finally” degentrified hip-hop after taking years to include breakdancing, crumping and other hip-hop-based dance routines in the competition. She said that after watching UDA competitions over the years, she felt the routines were good but the real hip-hop artistry wasn’t there.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“When I watched UNLV dance, I felt the energy,” Jania said in a TikTok video. “I felt the energy with LSU too, but I felt it in a different way because they chose a song that was more mainstream. But regardless, both of these routines have done something this category hasn’t done for me in years.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Similar to Williams, Jania said UDA needs Black choreographers to explain to them the “true origins of \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/14-hip-hop-pioneers-of-caribbean-or-latin-american-descent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hip-hop\u003C/a>.” She further said hip-hop was birthed from communities who were “stripped of their resources but had nothing but their bodies to express themselves with.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@dollfacedajania/video/7597223845090675998\" data-video-id=\"7597223845090675998\" data-embed-from=\"oembed\" style=\"max-width:605px; min-width:325px;\"> \u003Csection> \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" title=\"@dollfacedajania\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@dollfacedajania?refer=embed\">@dollfacedajania\u003C/a> \u003Cp>bring REAL hip-hop on the UDA stage please 😙 \u003Ca title=\"udanationals\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/udanationals?refer=embed\">#udanationals\u003C/a> \u003Ca title=\"udahiphop\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/udahiphop?refer=embed\">#udahiphop\u003C/a> \u003Ca title=\"unlv\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/unlv?refer=embed\">#unlv\u003C/a> \u003Ca title=\"lsutigergirls\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/lsutigergirls?refer=embed\">#lsutigergirls\u003C/a> \u003Ca title=\"hiphopdance\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/hiphopdance?refer=embed\">#hiphopdance\u003C/a> \u003C/p> \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" title=\"♬ son original - Classic HipHop&RnB\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/son-original-6907109452093197057?refer=embed\">♬ son original – Classic HipHop&RnB\u003C/a> \u003C/section> \u003C/blockquote> \u003Cscript async src=\"https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js\">\u003C/script>\n\u003C/div>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In the comments section, more people were leaning toward UNLV’s dance routine, claiming that LSU “stole” their set from Lamar.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“LSU felt like a white choreographer tryna win with ‘using the culture,’” one user wrote.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“LSU choreographers literally ripped off Kendrick’s half time show I’m so glad they didn’t win just on that,” another wrote.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“UNLV won that fair and square!!!!!!” a third user wrote. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Other TikTokers, like Jasmina Hinton (\u003Ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@jasminahinton/video/7597087314522787102?_r=1&_t=ZT-93G6gqSE3aZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@jasminehinton\u003C/a>) and Mocha (\u003Ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@strutdontstress/video/7597016502113422623?_r=1&_t=ZT-93G6maaFFtu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@strutdontstress)\u003C/a>, were also in favor of UNLV’s win because they said they brought the true artistry of hip-hop, including the five elements of hip-hop and less over-the-top theatrics. Both women gave credit to the LSU dancers, who they say did an amazing job in their routine, but the TikTokers felt UNLV had the real “wow factor” in this year’s competition.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n",[66,70,74],{"name":67,"slug":68,"id":69},"Blavity-U","blavity-u",70685,{"name":71,"slug":72,"id":73},"College Sports","college-sports",70686,{"name":75,"slug":76,"id":77},"Sports","sports",93,[79,83],{"id":80,"name":81,"slug":82,"description":10,"image":10},74288,"Blavity U Top Stories","blavity-u-top-stories",{"id":84,"name":85,"slug":86,"description":10,"image":10},44529,"top stories","top-stories",{"url":88,"thumbnail":89,"credit":90,"title":91,"alt":92,"type":35},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cdn.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/design-2026-01-22T175445.121.jpg.webp","https://cdn.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/design-2026-01-22T175445.121-150x84.jpg.webp","Photo: Getty Images","design – 2026-01-22T175445.121","LSU Tiger Girls and UNLV team","2026-01-22T13:00:11-05:00","2026-01-22T13:00:19-05:00",[],{"disableAd":39,"disableConnatixPlayer":39,"enabledComments":39,"headScript":10},{"id":98,"author":99,"authors":106,"title":108,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":109,"body":110,"categories":111,"tags":113,"featuredMedia":123,"publishedAt":129,"updatedAt":130,"type":37,"listicle":131,"disableContentGate":39,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":39,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":132},72894683,{"id":100,"avatar":101,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":102,"email":103,"username":102,"normalizedUsername":104,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":105},96045,"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/DSC09602-2-compress.jpg","Tomas Kassahun","[email protected]","tomas-kassahun","2019-09-06T00:00:00+00:00",[107],{"id":100,"avatar":101,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":102,"email":103,"username":102,"normalizedUsername":104,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":105},"Renee Good's Family Hires The Law Firm That Represented George Floyd's Family","renee-goods-family-hires-the-law-firm-that-represented-george-floyds-family","\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/don-lemon-slams-stephen-a-smith-over-renee-nicole-good\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Renee Good\u003C/a>‘s family, who is seeking justice for the murder of their loved one, has now hired the same law firm that represented \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/george-floyds-aunt-calls-out-trump-after-renee-goods-killing-by-ice-agent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">George Floyd\u003C/a>. According to the \u003Ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/renee-good-family-george-floyd-attorneys-minneapolis-6386af3234405e93f68ea00dbf8c98f1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Associated Press\u003C/a>, the family announced in a statement that they have hired the Chicago-based firm, Romanucci & Blandin. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-renee-good-s-lawyers-saying-about-her-death\">What are Renee Good’s lawyers saying about her death?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Romanucci & Blandin law firm said there are several questions to ask about what happened on Jan. 7 when Renee was killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in her own neighborhood in Minneapolis. The lawyers said the family deserves to know what federal officers were doing in that neighborhood and what happened during the agent’s interaction with Renee. They also demand to know the details of what happened after the 37-year-old woman was shot and killed. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“What happened to Renee is wrong,” the firm said in a statement, per the AP, adding that the community is not getting the answers they deserve at this time. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Romanucci & Blandin also said the family is urging the public to stop using Renee for political stunts and to remember her as “an agent of peace.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-happened-when-renee-good-was-shot-in-minneapolis\">What happened when Renee Good was shot in Minneapolis?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Renee’s partner, Becca Good, said the shooting happened after the couple dropped off their 6-year-old child at school. Becca said she and her loved one were observing ICE activities on the way back from the school as tensions escalated. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Video recorded by witnesses showed an ICE agent approaching Renee as she was driving a red SUV. As the agent ordered Renee to open her car door, she tried to drive away. Ross, however, fired multiple shots and killed the 37-year-old mother in front of her loved one.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Trump administration now refuses to bring charges against Ross, saying he shot her in self-defense. Renee’s supporters, however, continue to affirm that the agent was never in danger.\u003C/p>\n",[112],{"name":24,"slug":25,"id":26},[114,118,122],{"id":115,"name":116,"slug":117,"description":10,"image":10},48909,"George Floyd","george-floyd-2",{"id":119,"name":120,"slug":121,"description":10,"image":10},77221,"Renee Good","renee-good",{"id":84,"name":85,"slug":86,"description":10,"image":10},{"url":124,"thumbnail":125,"credit":126,"title":127,"alt":128,"type":35},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cdn.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2255158374.jpg.webp","https://cdn.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2255158374-150x100.jpg.webp","A notice reading \"RIP Renee, murdered by ICE\" is seen next to a memorial for Renee Nicole Good on January 07, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to federal officials, an ICE agent shot and killed Good during a confrontation earlier today in south Minneapolis. | Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images","Federal Agents Descend On Minneapolis For Immigration Enforcement Operations","A notice reading \"RIP Renee, murdered by ICE\" is seen next to a memorial for Renee Nicole Good on January 07, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to federal officials, an ICE agent shot and killed Good during a confrontation earlier today in south Minneapolis.","2026-01-19T21:15:40-05:00","2026-01-19T21:16:55-05:00",[],{"disableAd":39,"disableConnatixPlayer":39,"enabledComments":39,"headScript":10},{"id":134,"author":135,"authors":136,"title":138,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":139,"body":140,"categories":141,"tags":146,"featuredMedia":162,"publishedAt":168,"updatedAt":169,"type":37,"listicle":170,"disableContentGate":39,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":39,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":171},72894312,{"id":51,"avatar":52,"firstName":53,"lastName":54,"displayName":55,"email":56,"username":57,"normalizedUsername":58,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":59},[137],{"id":51,"avatar":52,"firstName":53,"lastName":54,"displayName":55,"email":56,"username":57,"normalizedUsername":58,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":59},"George Floyd’s Aunt Calls Out Trump After Renee Good’s Killing By ICE Agent","george-floyds-aunt-calls-out-trump-after-renee-goods-killing-by-ice-agent","\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/two-years-later-the-system-that-killed-george-floyd-hasnt-changed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">George Floyd’s\u003C/a> aunt called out President Donald Trump after the deadly shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good, who was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in south Minneapolis earlier in January. According to Angela Harrelson, her death draws parallels to Floyd’s murder and the lasting trauma it left on the community.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-did-angela-harrelson-say-about-floyd-s-and-good-s-killings\">What did Angela Harrelson say about Floyd’s and Good’s killings?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Donald Trump is not God. He thinks he is, but he is not,” Harrelson said at a meeting Tuesday, surrounded by other Minneapolis families who lost their loved ones in recent years.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Harrelson spoke out about Good’s killing and the similarities she sees between Good’s death and Floyd’s murder in May 2020 by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. While both murders were high profile and sparked nationwide protests, they also received different reactions from the public.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Good’s family has also retained the same law firm that represented Floyd’s family to investigate her shooting and press for answers in the case, \u003Ca href=\"https://thegrio.com/2026/01/15/the-aunt-of-george-floyd-calls-out-trump-after-murder-of-renee-good/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Grio\u003C/a> reported.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe title=\"George Floyd's aunt Angela Harrelson speaks out following shooting of Renee Good by ICE agents\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hn3VHnWYZHo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C/iframe>\n\u003C/div>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-trump-administration-defends-ice-agent-in-the-shooting\">Trump administration defends ICE agent in the shooting\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Both Trump and his administration considered Good’s killing justified, accusing her of interfering with ICE operations. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called her actions “domestic terrorism” and said Good “weaponized” her vehicle to stop the ICE agent and other officers from carrying out their duties, \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/ice-shooting-minneapolis-renee-nicole-good\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Blavity\u003C/a> reported.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“They’re out of control,” Harrelson said about ICE. “And they feel like they don’t have to answer to nobody but Donald Trump.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While criticizing Trump’s leadership, Harrelson said, “Renee deserved to be here today.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-they-re-killing-black-brown-and-even-white-people\">‘They’re killing Black, brown and even white people’\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>She also said Trump’s crackdown on immigration disproportionately targets Black and brown people, creating a division among communities. Good’s killing, she said, highlights and reinforces that larger conversation.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“They’re killing Black, brown and even white people,” Harrelson said. “Some of these people could end up being your neighbors, the people you work with, the people you know. All of this stuff trickles down when you’re dealing with absolute destruction and corruption.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Harrelson also shared a message of encouragement to the families, stating that leaning on prayer and God’s faith would help them get through the tough times they have faced, especially during this administration.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“If you stand for humanity, you know what to do,” she said. “The tide is gonna turn. And it’s gonna be rough for a while, but we will get there. I know the pain. You guys know the pain. We all know the pain. We know this pain together. But we will see the light again.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n",[142],{"name":143,"slug":144,"id":145},"Politics","politics",120,[147,151,155,156,160,161],{"id":148,"name":149,"slug":150,"description":10,"image":10},77220,"Angela Harrelson","angela-harrelson",{"id":152,"name":153,"slug":154,"description":10,"image":10},37278,"Donald trump","donald-trump",{"id":115,"name":116,"slug":117,"description":10,"image":10},{"id":157,"name":158,"slug":159,"description":10,"image":10},77223,"ICE agent","ice-agent",{"id":119,"name":120,"slug":121,"description":10,"image":10},{"id":84,"name":85,"slug":86,"description":10,"image":10},{"url":163,"thumbnail":164,"credit":165,"title":166,"alt":167,"type":35},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cdn.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-1258048416.jpg.webp","https://cdn.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-1258048416-150x96.jpg.webp","Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images","Three Year Anniversary Of George Floyd’s Death Marked In Minneapolis","MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 25: Angela Harrelson (C), aunt of George Floyd, arrives for a vigil at George Floyd Square on May 25, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Today marks three years since Floyd was killed in 2020 by a Minneapolis police officer who was found guilty of second-degree murder.","2026-01-17T18:45:54-05:00","2026-01-18T12:35:34-05:00",[],{"disableAd":39,"disableConnatixPlayer":39,"enabledComments":39,"headScript":10},258,{"list":174,"total":334},[175,216,240,272,306],{"id":176,"author":177,"authors":186,"title":195,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":196,"body":197,"categories":198,"tags":203,"featuredMedia":208,"publishedAt":212,"updatedAt":213,"type":37,"listicle":214,"disableContentGate":39,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":39,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":215},72850046,{"id":178,"avatar":179,"firstName":180,"lastName":181,"displayName":182,"email":183,"username":182,"normalizedUsername":184,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":185},100570,"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/717f1f2132bd573b5f0906e348e63bbeb4436423b7cf9c46f157b07a4d525718?s=1024&r=g","Austin","Payne","Austin Payne","[email protected]","austin-payne","2025-06-12T17:38:58+00:00",[187,188],{"id":178,"avatar":179,"firstName":180,"lastName":181,"displayName":182,"email":183,"username":182,"normalizedUsername":184,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":185},{"id":189,"avatar":190,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":191,"email":192,"username":193,"normalizedUsername":193,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":194},100546,"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/c4e90cc9cf822800c1c22b1f413b7e7ed59a875a8199b35962d01293e7b1df00?s=1024&r=g","Precious Gibson","[email protected]","precious-gibson","2024-08-27T17:01:10+00:00","45 Fun Trivia Questions And Answers That’ll Have Your Group Chat In Shambles","fun-trivia-questions-and-answers","\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/entertainment/friends-trivia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trivia games\u003C/a> have been a beloved pastime for generations. They spark curiosity, bring people together and test knowledge across a vast range of topics. Whether you’re hosting a game night, looking for icebreakers to help \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/atlanta-singles-events\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">make a genuine connection\u003C/a>, or just want to have some fun learning random facts, trivia is a perfect choice. The \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/black-trivia-questions\">best trivia questions\u003C/a> mix challenge with entertainment, encouraging friendly competition and laughter.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This article presents a collection of fun trivia questions and answers designed to engage all ages and interests. The questions are grouped into categories, such as general knowledge, movies, science, geography, history, and pop culture. Each question comes with its answer to make it easy to play solo, at the family cookout or with your group chat.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-general-knowledge-trivia-questions\">General Knowledge Trivia Questions\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>General knowledge trivia covers a broad spectrum of facts, perfect for warming up your brain.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q1: What is the tallest mountain in the world?\u003Cbr>A1: Mount Everest\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q2: How many continents are there on Earth?\u003Cbr>A2: Seven\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q3: What is the largest ocean on Earth?\u003Cbr>A3: The Pacific Ocean\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q4: Which planet is known as the Red Planet?\u003Cbr>A4: Mars\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q5: What is the smallest country in the world?\u003Cbr>A5: Vatican City\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These questions offer a mix of geography and natural science that most people can attempt, making them great for group games or casual quizzes.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-movie-trivia-questions\">Movie Trivia Questions\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Movies are a favorite trivia category for many. These questions cover classic titles and recent hits.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q6: In which movie series does the character Jack Sparrow appear?\u003Cbr>A6: \u003Cem>Pirates of the Caribbean\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q7: Who directed the epic film \u003Cem>Titanic\u003C/em>?\u003Cbr>A7: James Cameron\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q8: What is the name of the fictional city where Batman operates?\u003Cbr>A8: Gotham City\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q9: Which movie features the quote, “May the Force be with you”?\u003Cbr>A9: \u003Cem>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/after-just-1-week-in-release-star-wars-becomes-all-time-bestselling-title-in-blu-ray-history\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Star Wars\u003C/a>\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q10: Who voiced the character Woody in the \u003Cem>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/woody-and-jessie-show-love-to-black-children-during-parade\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Toy Story\u003C/a>\u003C/em> series?\u003Cbr>A10: Tom Hanks\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Movie trivia often taps into popular culture and shared cinematic experiences, making it ideal for parties and entertainment nights.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-science-trivia-questions\">Science Trivia Questions\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Science trivia educates while it entertains, perfect for curious minds.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q11: What is the chemical symbol for water?\u003Cbr>A11: H2O\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q12: How many bones are there in the adult human body?\u003Cbr>A12: 206\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q13: What gas do plants absorb from the atmosphere during photosynthesis?\u003Cbr>A13: Carbon dioxide (CO2)\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q14: What planet has the most moons?\u003Cbr>A14: Saturn\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q15: What is the speed of light?\u003Cbr>A15: Approximately 299,792 kilometers per second (186,282 miles per second)\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Science trivia fosters curiosity about the world and universe, appealing to learners of all ages.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-history-trivia-questions\">History Trivia Questions\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>History questions allow people to explore past events and famous figures that shaped the world.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q16: Who was the first President of the United States?\u003Cbr>A16: \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/erica-armstrong-dunbar-book-about-george-washington-runaway-slave-ona-judge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">George Washington\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q17: In which year did the Titanic sink?\u003Cbr>A17: 1912\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q18: What ancient civilization built the pyramids?\u003Cbr>A18: The Egyptians\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q19: Who was known as the Maid of Orleans?\u003Cbr>A19: Joan of Arc\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q20: What war was fought between the North and South regions in the United States?\u003Cbr>A20: The American Civil War\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>History trivia often reveals surprising facts and encourages deeper exploration of humanity’s story.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-geography-trivia-questions\">Geography Trivia Questions\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Geography trivia tests knowledge of the world’s countries, capitals, landmarks and natural features.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q21: What is the capital of Australia?\u003Cbr>A21: Canberra\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q22: Which river is the longest in the world?\u003Cbr>A22: The Nile River\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q23: What desert is the largest hot desert in the world?\u003Cbr>A23: The Sahara Desert\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q24: In which country would you find the city of Kyoto?\u003Cbr>A24: Japan\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q25: What U.S. state is known as the “Sunshine State”?\u003Cbr>A25: Florida\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These questions encourage players to understand global geography and cultural landmarks.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-sports-trivia-questions\">Sports Trivia Questions\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Sports trivia appeals to fans of all kinds, testing knowledge of players, teams, and famous moments.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q26: Which country won the FIFA World Cup in 2018?\u003Cbr>A26: France\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q27: How many players are on a soccer team on the field at one time?\u003Cbr>A27: 11\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q28: In tennis, what piece of fruit is found at the top of the Wimbledon trophy?\u003Cbr>A28: Pineapple\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q29: Who holds the record for most home runs in a single MLB season?\u003Cbr>A29: Barry Bonds, 73\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q30: What sport is known as “the king of sports?”\u003Cbr>A30: Soccer (football)\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/entertainment/sports-trivia-questions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sports trivia\u003C/a> often brings excitement and nostalgia, perfect for energizing a trivia night.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-music-trivia-questions\">Music Trivia Questions\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Music trivia covers genres, artists, and iconic moments in musical history.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q31: Who is known as the “King of Pop”?\u003Cbr>A31: \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/entertainment/michael-trailer-biopic-trailer-first-footage-jafaar-jackson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Michael Jackson\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q32: Which band released the album “Abbey Road”?\u003Cbr>A32: \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/entertainment/the-beatles-movies-cast-harris-dickinson-paul-mescal-and-more\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Beatles\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q33: What musical instrument has black and white keys?\u003Cbr>A33: Piano\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q34: Who sang the hit song \u003Cem>Rolling in the Deep\u003C/em>?\u003Cbr>A34: Adele\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q35: What genre of music did \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/taylor-swifts-life-of-a-showgirl-anti-blackness-concerns\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Taylor Swift\u003C/a> start in before moving to pop?\u003Cbr>A35: Country\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Music trivia connects people through shared sounds and artist legacies.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-food-and-drink-trivia-questions\">Food And Drink Trivia Questions\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Food trivia is a delicious way to test knowledge about cuisine and culinary facts.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q36: What is the main ingredient in guacamole?\u003Cbr>A36: Avocado\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q37: Which country is famous for sushi?\u003Cbr>A37: Japan\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q38: What type of pasta is shaped like small rice grains?\u003Cbr>A38: Orzo\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q39: What drink is made from fermented grapes?\u003Cbr>A39: Wine\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q40: Which fruit is known as the “king of fruits” in Southeast Asia?\u003Cbr>A40: Durian\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Food trivia adds flavor and fun, ideal for dinner parties or casual conversations.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fun-and-weird-trivia-questions\">Fun And Weird Trivia Questions\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Sometimes trivia is just about odd, funny, or surprising facts that make people smile.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q41: What animal is known to spend 90% of its day sleeping?\u003Cbr>A41: Koala\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q42: What color is a polar bear’s skin under its white fur?\u003Cbr>A42: Black\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q43: Which planet is the hottest in our solar system?\u003Cbr>A43: Venus\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q44: What is the only mammal capable of true flight?\u003Cbr>A44: Bat\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Q45: Which fruit floats because 25% of its volume is air?\u003Cbr>A45: Apple\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Fun trivia questions keep the energy light and encourage curiosity about the world’s quirks.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tips-for-hosting-a-great-trivia-night\">Tips For Hosting A Great Trivia Night\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Trivia games can be a blast with the right approach. Here are some tips to make your trivia night memorable:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003Cli>Mix categories: Including a variety of topics keeps everyone engaged and tests a wide range of knowledge.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>Set clear rules: Decide on time limits, scoring, and whether teams or individuals compete.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>Use multimedia: Adding pictures or audio clips can make questions more dynamic and inclusive.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>Encourage teamwork: Trivia is more fun when players collaborate and discuss.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>Keep it lighthearted: The goal is to entertain and learn, so avoid overly obscure or tricky questions.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Hosting trivia is a wonderful way to bond with friends, family, or coworkers and enjoy learning new things. Fun trivia questions are an excellent way to challenge your brain, spark conversations, and create unforgettable moments. From general knowledge to movies, science to sports, these questions cover a wide range of interests and difficulty levels.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Whether you’re playing for fun, in a competitive setting, or using trivia as an educational tool, the answers enrich your understanding of the world around you. Trivia reminds people that knowledge is diverse and sometimes delightfully unexpected. Gather your friends or test yourself solo. Dive into these questions and enjoy the thrill of discovery that trivia brings.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions\">Frequently Asked Questions\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp id=\"h-what-makes-trivia-questions-fun\">\u003Cstrong>What makes trivia questions fun?\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp id=\"h-what-makes-trivia-questions-fun\">Fun trivia questions strike a balance between challenge and entertainment, often including surprising facts or humorous twists.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp id=\"h-can-trivia-be-educational\">\u003Cstrong>Can trivia be educational?\u003C/strong> \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp id=\"h-can-trivia-be-educational\">Absolutely. Trivia encourages learning across various subjects in an engaging way that helps retain information better than passive study.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp id=\"h-how-do-i-make-trivia-accessible-for-all-ages\">\u003Cstrong>How do I make trivia accessible for all ages?\u003C/strong> \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp id=\"h-how-do-i-make-trivia-accessible-for-all-ages\">Choose questions of varying difficulty and topics to cater to different knowledge levels and interests, and consider allowing team play for support.\u003C/p>\n",[199],{"name":200,"slug":201,"id":202},"Culture","culture",118,[204],{"id":205,"name":206,"slug":207,"description":10,"image":10},77273,"Quotes SEO - Cluster","quotes-seo-cluster",{"url":209,"thumbnail":210,"credit":211,"title":195,"alt":195,"type":35},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/pexels-rdne-4920899-scaled-1.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/pexels-rdne-4920899-scaled-1-150x100.jpg","RDNE Stock project/Pexels","2026-01-26T01:00:09-05:00","2026-01-26T01:00:17-05:00",[],{"disableAd":39,"disableConnatixPlayer":39,"enabledComments":39,"headScript":10},{"id":217,"author":218,"authors":219,"title":222,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":223,"body":224,"categories":225,"tags":228,"featuredMedia":230,"publishedAt":236,"updatedAt":237,"type":37,"listicle":238,"disableContentGate":39,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":39,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":239},72850043,{"id":178,"avatar":179,"firstName":180,"lastName":181,"displayName":182,"email":183,"username":182,"normalizedUsername":184,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":185},[220,221],{"id":178,"avatar":179,"firstName":180,"lastName":181,"displayName":182,"email":183,"username":182,"normalizedUsername":184,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":185},{"id":189,"avatar":190,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":191,"email":192,"username":193,"normalizedUsername":193,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":194},"Soccer Quotes That Turn Self-Doubt Into Championship Energy","soccer-quotes","\n\u003Cp>Soccer is more than just a game. It’s a global passion that unites billions, transcending \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/our-words-are-not-without-meaning-why-speaking-articulately-should-not-be-regarded-as-better-than\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">language, culture, and borders\u003C/a>. At its core, soccer embodies teamwork, skill, resilience and the joy of play. The spirit of the sport is often captured in \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/women/mental-health-quotes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">powerful quotes\u003C/a> from legendary players, coaches, commentators, and even fans.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Whether you’re a player looking for motivation, a coach aiming to inspire your team, or a fan wanting to celebrate your love for the beautiful game, soccer quotes offer timeless wisdom. They capture the excitement, the struggle, and the sheer artistry that define soccer. This article highlights some of the best quotes, organized by themes such as passion, teamwork, perseverance, leadership, and joy. Each quote comes with context to deepen your appreciation of the game and its life lessons.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-quotes-about-passion-and-love-for-the-game\">Quotes about passion and love for the game\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Passion in soccer transcends skill alone. These quotes celebrate the deep love players and fans share for the sport.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“I don’t play against a particular team. I play against the idea of losing.” — Eric Cantona\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it’s much more serious than that.” — Bill Shankly\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Football is the ballet of the masses.” — Dmitri Shostakovich\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.” — Pelé\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The true passion behind soccer lies in the heart behind every play, the devotion of fans chanting in stadiums, and the dreams sparked in young players worldwide. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-quotes-about-teamwork-and-unity\">Quotes about teamwork and unity\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In soccer, unity is strength. These quotes emphasize the power of working together. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” — Michael Jordan\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Football is played with the head. Your feet are just the tools.” — Andrea Pirlo\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it.” — Lionel Messi\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“A team is not a group of people who work together. A team is a group of people who trust each other.” — Simon Sinek\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Soccer is a team sport where collaboration often outshines individual brilliance. Success depends on players trusting each other’s abilities and executing a shared vision on the field.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-quotes-about-perseverance-and-overcoming-challenges\">Quotes about perseverance and overcoming challenges\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Soccer players face setbacks, such as missed goals, injuries, tough opponents. These quotes inspire resilience and grit.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it.” — Lionel Messi\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” — Michael Jordan\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory.” — Les Brown\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“In football, the worst blindness is only seeing the ball.” — Nelson Falcão Rodrigues\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Perseverance in soccer isn’t just physical toughness, but the mental strength to learn from failure and keep striving. These quotes push individuals to keep persevering. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-quotes-about-leadership-and-influence\">Quotes about leadership and influence\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Leadership in soccer demands more than skill. These quotes highlight a leader’s impact.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life.” — John Wooden\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It’s about impact, influence, and inspiration.” — Robin S. Sharma\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“I learned all about life with a ball at my feet.” — Ronaldinho\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.” — John Maxwell\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Being a leader in soccer requires the ability to inspire, motivate and unite. Strong leaders on the pitch inspire their teammates and shape the outcome of games.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-quotes-about-joy-and-the-beauty-of-the-game\">Quotes about joy and the beauty of the game\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Joy is the heartbeat of soccer. Soccer brings immense joy and beauty to millions. These quotes celebrate that magic.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“The game is simple, but it is difficult to play simple.” — Johan Cruyff\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Football is about having fun and playing the game with joy.” — Neymar\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Soccer is the most beautiful and spectacular sport in the world.” — David Beckham\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Playing soccer is not just about scoring goals but about expressing yourself and enjoying every moment on the pitch.” — Unknown\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The joy in soccer fuels creativity, passion and connection among players and fans.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-use-these-soccer-quotes\">How to use these soccer quotes\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>You can incorporate these quotes into many aspects of your soccer journey and life as a whole, even if you are not an athlete:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Motivational speeches:\u003C/strong> Coaches can use quotes to inspire teams during training or games.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Personal reminders:\u003C/strong> Players might write favorite quotes in journals or locker rooms for daily inspiration.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Social media posts:\u003C/strong> Fans and athletes share quotes to celebrate moments or express their love for the game.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Team bonding:\u003C/strong> Quotes can spark conversations about values, like teamwork and resilience, during meetings.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Event programs:\u003C/strong> Incorporate quotes in match day programs or newsletters to uplift audiences.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Let these soccer quotes fuel your passion for the game and encourage you to embody its lessons on and off the field. From legends like Messi, Cruyff and Pelé to inspirational leaders and thinkers, these words offer motivation for players and fans alike. Whether you’re training for a big match or reflecting on life’s challenges, soccer quotes provide timeless wisdom and energy. Let the spirit of the beautiful game inspire you every day to play hard, support each other and celebrate the joy of soccer.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions\">Frequently Asked Questions\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp id=\"h-who-are-some-of-the-most-famous-soccer-players-quoted-here\">\u003Cstrong>Who are some of the most famous soccer players quoted here? \u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Notable soccer players include Lionel Messi, Johan Cruyff, Pelé, Ronaldinho, Neymar and David Beckham.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp id=\"h-can-these-quotes-help-improve-team-morale\">\u003Cstrong>Can these quotes help improve team morale?\u003C/strong> \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Yes, quotes about teamwork, leadership and perseverance can motivate players and foster unity.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp id=\"h-how-can-fans-use-soccer-quotes\">\u003C/p>\n",[226,227],{"name":200,"slug":201,"id":202},{"name":75,"slug":76,"id":77},[229],{"id":205,"name":206,"slug":207,"description":10,"image":10},{"url":231,"thumbnail":232,"credit":233,"title":234,"alt":235,"type":35},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cdn.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2158192243-scaled.jpg.webp","https://cdn.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2158192243-150x100.jpg.webp","(Rawpixel/Getty Images)","Soccer Quotes","Soccer player","2026-01-25T23:57:15-05:00","2026-01-26T00:39:27-05:00",[],{"disableAd":39,"disableConnatixPlayer":39,"enabledComments":39,"headScript":10},{"id":241,"author":242,"authors":249,"title":251,"subTitle":252,"excerpt":10,"slug":253,"body":254,"categories":255,"tags":257,"featuredMedia":263,"publishedAt":268,"updatedAt":269,"type":37,"listicle":270,"disableContentGate":39,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":39,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":271},72895024,{"id":243,"avatar":244,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":245,"email":246,"username":245,"normalizedUsername":247,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":248},95243,"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/16fdff8cddc7bd4702273ce7e1677d1d0021c4b55e83ca690c8b22edc3cbfdf4?s=1024&r=g","Christopher Rhodes","[email protected]","christopher-rhodes","2020-09-14T00:00:00+00:00",[250],{"id":243,"avatar":244,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":245,"email":246,"username":245,"normalizedUsername":247,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":248},"Gullah-Geechee Community In Georgia Scores Win To Protect Island From Developers, Rising Property Costs","Tuesday’s referendum was organized to protect the historic community from developers and rising costs.","gullah-geechee-community-in-georgia-scores-win-to-protect-island-from-developers","\n\u003Cp>Voters in one \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/adriana-smith-family-seeks-medical-cost-help-baby-born-abortion-law\">Georgia\u003C/a> county have overwhelmingly supported a measure intending to protect a historic Black community from encroachment by developers and rising property costs. The referendum has succeeded in repealing a controversial new zoning law that critics warned would push out the area’s local population and endanger its culture.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fight-over-house-size-amid-community-displacement-concerns\">Fight over house size amid community displacement concerns\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Citizens in McIntosh County, Georgia, voted Tuesday to repeal a new \u003Ca href=\"https://www.wjcl.com/article/mcintosh-county-residents-vote-to-repeal-controversial-sapelo-island-zoning-ordinance/70072934\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">zoning law\u003C/a> for Sapelo Island, home of one of the last surviving Gullah-Geechee communities in the South. The vote repeals a 2023 decision by McIntosh County commissioners to double the size of houses allowed to be built in the tiny Hogg Hummock community on Sapelo Island, where a small and culturally distinct population descended from freed slaves still resides. Although turnout for Tuesday’s referendum was below 20% of registered voters, over 1,500 people voted for the repeal, while less than 300 people voted to retain the 2023 zoning regulations.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The referendum overturns a 2023 zoning decision that had divided parties interested in preserving the island’s population and culture. Supporters of the 2023 zoning change said that the new provision, increasing the allowed size of homes from 1,400 sq. ft. to 3,000 sq. ft., would help preserve the community by allowing families to build larger homes rather than be forced to move out; supporters of the change also said that the new rules would be easier to enforce. Critics, however, argued that allowing larger homes would bring in outside developers and raise property taxes, both of which would price out and displace families who had lived on the island for generations.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-political-battle-sets-the-stage-for-uncertain-next-steps\">Political battle sets the stage for uncertain next steps\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Last Tuesday’s referendum was the culmination of a long political and legal \u003Ca href=\"https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/sapelo-zoning-rules-repealed-county-preps-to-impose-moratorium/article_a7242381-d6a3-4eb3-afdd-726386f389c5.html#:~:text=Voters%20in%20McIntosh%20County%20on,square%20feet%20of%20interior%20space\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">battle\u003C/a>. After the commissioners approved the new zoning regulations in 2023, Keep Sapelo Geechee formed and collected enough signatures to force a referendum on the issue under the Home Rule Provisions of the Georgia state constitution. Supporters of the expanded home size regulation, however, argued in court that the constitutional provision did not apply to local zoning changes. The Georgia Supreme Court eventually sided with the petitioners and allowed the vote. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While the 2023 zoning regulation change has now been reversed, it is not clear what the ultimate \u003Ca href=\"https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/sapelo-zoning-rules-repealed-county-preps-to-impose-moratorium/article_a7242381-d6a3-4eb3-afdd-726386f389c5.html#:~:text=Voters%20in%20McIntosh%20County%20on,square%20feet%20of%20interior%20space\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">outcome\u003C/a> will be for homebuilding regulations or for the local community. The McIntosh County Commission held a special meeting on Thursday to consider the issue. “We want to come up with a solution that favors everyone, especially the county as a whole, and we are working diligently to bring this issue to a successful conclusion,” Commissioner Roger Lotson said, according to The Brunswick News. Prior to the vote, commissioners had warned that a repeal would not return the area to the previous size limit of 1,400 sq. ft. but would instead be interpreted as eliminating any limits to the size of houses that can be built in the Hogg Hummock community. Per \u003Ca href=\"https://www.wabe.org/slave-descendants-score-a-victory-with-voters-in-fight-to-protect-their-georgia-island-homes/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WABE\u003C/a>, Dana Braun, an attorney for the Hogg Hummock landowners, dismissed this warning as a “ludicrous argument” meant to scare voters, and commissioners have now signaled that they are open to implementing a moratorium on issuing new building permits while they figure out how best to address the community’s concerns.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>At the Thursday meeting, per \u003Ca href=\"https://www.wtoc.com/2026/01/23/mcintosh-county-implements-30-day-building-moratorium-sapelo-island/\">WTOC\u003C/a>, the McIntosh Board of Commissioners “unanimously voted for a 30-day moratorium to be put in place on Sapelo Island, blocking any building until new zoning laws can be voted on.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These efforts have all been implemented for the stated purpose of serving and protecting one of the last Gullah-Geechee communities, descendants of slaves who established coastal communities from North Carolina to Florida after the Civil War where they retained significant language and cultural features carried with them from Africa. With development and economic pressures causing these communities to dwindle, voters in McIntosh County have potentially paused, if not eliminated, financial pressures facing that county’s Gullah-Geechee population.\u003C/p>\n",[256],{"name":143,"slug":144,"id":145},[258,262],{"id":259,"name":260,"slug":261,"description":10,"image":10},21118,"Gullah-Geechee","gullah-geechee",{"id":84,"name":85,"slug":86,"description":10,"image":10},{"url":264,"thumbnail":265,"credit":90,"title":266,"alt":267,"type":35},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cdn.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-182668558.jpg.webp","https://cdn.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-182668558-150x128.jpg.webp","Marsh and boat dock on Sapelo Island Georgia","\"Gentle marsh scene in Sapelo Island, Georgia\"","2026-01-25T19:49:47-05:00","2026-01-25T19:51:31-05:00",[],{"disableAd":39,"disableConnatixPlayer":39,"enabledComments":39,"headScript":10},{"id":273,"author":274,"authors":284,"title":286,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":287,"body":288,"categories":289,"tags":291,"featuredMedia":296,"publishedAt":302,"updatedAt":303,"type":37,"listicle":304,"disableContentGate":39,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":39,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":305},72895132,{"id":275,"avatar":276,"firstName":277,"lastName":278,"displayName":279,"email":280,"username":281,"normalizedUsername":282,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":283},100233,"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/72f914bd1af7a8b8565f0bd4e863560ddbb3f74da3e30d69c4a7ee2e71847a08?s=1024&r=g","Shanique","Yates","Shanique Yates","[email protected]","ShaniqueYates","shaniqueyates","2023-09-15T16:06:13+00:00",[285],{"id":275,"avatar":276,"firstName":277,"lastName":278,"displayName":279,"email":280,"username":281,"normalizedUsername":282,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":283},"Timbaland Advocates For AI In Music: 'If You Use It Correctly...People Look At It As A Threat'","timbaland-ai-music-and-babybel-cheese-collab","\n\u003Cp>Music has always played a central role in \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/timbaland-opens-up-about-drug-addiction-says-jay-z-and-drake-helped-him-god-took-my-hearing-away\">Timbaland’s\u003C/a> life.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The producer first gained prominence in the 1990s by helping shape the sound of artists like Ginuwine and \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/timbaland-says-aaliyah-try-again-track-was-created-by-accident\">Aaliyah\u003C/a>. As a kid, he made beats in his bedroom and began performing as DJ Timmy Tim.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>After temporarily losing the use of his arm due to partial paralysis from being accidentally shot by a coworker as a teen, Timbaland was forced to improvise his DJing technique, using his shoulder to scratch records.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-on-remixing-the-babybel-i-m-your-baby-track\">On remixing the Babybel “I’m Your Baby” track\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Timbaland recently partnered with Babybel, the snack cheese brand known for its small wax-coated wheels. As part of an exclusive Mini Wax Tracks Music Drop, he remixed the brand’s “I’m Your Baby” song, creating both pop and EDM versions of the track.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“I think what attracted me was the chorus, it was so catchy,” Timbaland said.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>He added, “I was just explaining that one of my favorite commercials was the ‘Conjunction Junction, what’s your function’ back in the day. It was just those repeatable choruses that you don’t hear anymore in a commercial. When I heard ‘I’m Your Baby,’ it was like I needed to do something different that lives when I’m not living, and I feel like the remixes that I did with Babybel, it will play on for years and years, and my kids’ kids will know about it.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/baybel-1024x576.jpg.webp\" alt=\"Babybel® snack cheese partners with award-winning producer Timbaland to launch Mini Wax Tracks, a limited-edition music drop featuring exclusive remixes of Babybel’s “I’m Your Baby.”\" class=\"wp-image-72895691\"/>\u003Cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Babybel\u003C/figcaption>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-timbaland-shares-how-he-approaches-ai-in-music\">Timbaland shares how he approaches AI in music\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Timbaland’s approach to music has always included experimentation with sound and production techniques, and his perspective on AI follows a similar philosophy.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“You gotta understand, I was a guy who put crickets in a record, and a baby,” he said. “People beat me up, behind closed doors the execs used to be like, ‘We can’t play no records with all these weird sounds in them,’ this and that. But my whole thing was, music is all around us. The birds chirping, the wind blowing, all of it is music.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Timbaland recalled that early in his career, his access to instruments and equipment was limited.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“We didn’t have a lot growing up. My parents didn’t have a lot. I’ll give you an example, the song ‘Give It to Me’ with Nelly [Furtado], me and Justin [Timberlake], that was all buckets, rakes, spoons and drums because I looked at it as how I would make music if my mom couldn’t afford to buy this keyboard. All of this music is in me,” he said. “So what I did is, I go back to the essence of music that is all around.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-he-sees-ai-as-a-creative-tool-for-musicians\">Why he sees AI as a creative tool for musicians\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Timbaland said he views AI as a tool—one of many—for artists to bring their ideas to life.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“It’s no different in going into the future, where we’re at today. You have to look [at it as] it’s just a tool to get what’s in you out. And that’s all. I look at it as just tools,” he said. “What new tool today can get all of this musical idea out of me? Now we’re in the world of AI, guess what? If you use it correctly, it’s a tool, and other people look at it as a threat.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>He continued, “But we’ve been threatened in the music business all our life. Coming from Virginia, trying to create music to break out, our threat was we were too country. We always had competitors, and people just be afraid of new competition. But if you understand Timbaland, and what Timbaland is, he is an innovator who is going to try things, and if he likes those things, he’s going to stand by those things. That’s just where I’m at with it. I stand 10 toes down on what I believe in.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“This is only for the creative minds who understand it. I understand the regular, average person can use it, but I’m not talking to the regular, average person. I’m talking to the creative mind who’s beyond the creative scope of genius. That’s who I’m talking to. And so people now, understanding my creativity, are more curious of how I’m going to go about it and how I’m going to elevate it.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>From Jan. 21 through Feb. 6, Babybel and Timbaland fans can preview the remixes and enter to win a limited-edition Mini Wax Tracks set that includes mini vinyl records and a turntable to match.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n",[290],{"name":24,"slug":25,"id":26},[292],{"id":293,"name":294,"slug":295,"description":10,"image":10},45533,"Timbaland","timbaland",{"url":297,"thumbnail":298,"credit":299,"title":300,"alt":301,"type":35},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cdn.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2198503538.jpg.webp","https://cdn.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2198503538-150x100.jpg.webp","Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/WireImage","MAXIM Saints & Sinners Big Game Party","NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 08: Timbaland performs onstage during the MAXIM Saints and Sinners Big Game Party at Generations Hall on February 08, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.","2026-01-25T18:53:29-05:00","2026-01-25T18:53:36-05:00",[],{"disableAd":39,"disableConnatixPlayer":39,"enabledComments":39,"headScript":10},{"id":307,"author":308,"authors":309,"title":311,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":312,"body":313,"categories":314,"tags":316,"featuredMedia":325,"publishedAt":330,"updatedAt":331,"type":37,"listicle":332,"disableContentGate":39,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":39,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":333},72895643,{"id":100,"avatar":101,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":102,"email":103,"username":102,"normalizedUsername":104,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":105},[310],{"id":100,"avatar":101,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":102,"email":103,"username":102,"normalizedUsername":104,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":105},"Alex Pretti's Killing By ICE Agent: Videos, Witnesses Debunk Government's Claims — Here's What To Know","alex-pretti-killing-by-ice-agent-videos-witness-debunk-government-claims","\n\u003Cp>While \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/stellan-skarsgard-slams-donald-trump-for-threatening-to-take-over-greenland\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Donald Trump\u003C/a>‘s administration continues to spin the narrative on the killing of 37-year-old \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/liam-ramos-5-year-old-detained-by-ice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Minneapolis\u003C/a> nurse Alex Pretti, multiple video angles are debunking the federal government’s claims. The videos, which are shared by multiple witnesses from the gruesome scene, clearly show that Pretti was not a threat to ICE agents when he was fatally shot multiple times in a Minneapolis neighborhood on Saturday.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-do-the-witnesses-videos-show-about-the-killing-of-alex-pretti\">What do the witnesses’ videos show about the killing of Alex Pretti?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>One of the videos that is widely surfacing on the internet appears to be from a woman who is now known as the pink jacket lady on social media. The woman, who was seen in other people’s videos as she recorded the shooting, captured the clearest angle of the tragedy.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While the Trump administration claims that Pretti was armed when he was confronted by ICE agents, the woman’s video shows that the 37-year-old did not have a weapon in his hand when he was shot.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\u003Cp lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">New footage from Pink Jacket Lady\u003Ca href=\"https://t.co/kwPosN87xx\">pic.twitter.com/kwPosN87xx\u003C/a>\u003C/p>— Alex (@TheAlexJacob) \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/TheAlexJacob/status/2015142774312452323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 24, 2026\u003C/a>\u003C/blockquote> \u003Cscript async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\">\u003C/script>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A slow-motion look at the video also showed that federal agents already taken a handgun away from Pretti before they later shot him to death.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\u003Cp lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Federal agents in Minneapolis wrestled Alex Pretti to the ground and secured the handgun he was carrying moments before shooting him multiple times, according to a Washington Post analysis of video footage.\u003Cbr>\u003Cbr>Read more: \u003Ca href=\"https://t.co/gs55sapKJH\">https://t.co/gs55sapKJH\u003C/a> \u003Ca href=\"https://t.co/0LwulTgqLy\">pic.twitter.com/0LwulTgqLy\u003C/a>\u003C/p>— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/2015434077956903302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 25, 2026\u003C/a>\u003C/blockquote> \u003Cscript async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\">\u003C/script>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Pretti was also captured on \u003Ca href=\"https://x.com/ryangrim/status/2015132217878384791\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">video\u003C/a> as he appeared to be directing traffic and recording with his phone before being confronted by ICE agents. While he tried to protect a woman near him from the agents, Pretti was wrestled to the ground and pepper-sprayed. The woman recording the scene can be heard screaming in agony as Pretti was attacked by multiple agents and shot to death.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Despite the video evidence, the Department of Homeland Security released a statement saying “the officers attempted to disarm the suspect, but the armed suspect violently resisted.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-who-was-alex-pretti\">Who was Alex Pretti?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While Donald Trump’s administration tried to tarnish Pretti’s reputation, his family showed the public how beloved he was in the community. According to the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.startribune.com/fact-check-federal-officials-claims-about-fatal-minneapolis-shooting/601570444\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Minnesota Star Tribune\u003C/a>, the family described Pretti as a “compassionate and service-oriented person who worked as an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital, caring for military veterans.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“They said he was trying to protect a woman who had been shoved by agents and was holding his phone, not a weapon, when he was confronted,” the family said. “The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting.”\u003C/p>\n",[315],{"name":143,"slug":144,"id":145},[317,321],{"id":318,"name":319,"slug":320,"description":10,"image":10},77271,"Alex Pretti","alex-pretti",{"id":322,"name":323,"slug":324,"description":10,"image":10},38168,"Minneapolis","minneapolis",{"url":326,"thumbnail":327,"credit":328,"title":127,"alt":329,"type":35},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cdn.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2257670445.jpg.webp","https://cdn.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2257670445-150x94.jpg.webp","A man holds a Minnesota state flag during a vigil held by healthcare workers at a memorial for Alex Pretti on January 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pretti, an ICU nurse at a VA medical center, died on January 24 after being shot multiple times during an altercation with U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Eat Street district of Minneapolis. | Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images","MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 25: A man holds a Minnesota state flag during a vigil held by healthcare workers at a memorial for Alex Pretti on January 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pretti, an ICU nurse at a VA medical center, died on January 24 after being shot multiple times during an altercation with U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Eat Street district of Minneapolis.","2026-01-25T18:13:07-05:00","2026-01-25T18:13:14-05:00",[],{"disableAd":39,"disableConnatixPlayer":39,"enabledComments":39,"headScript":10},75734,["Reactive",336],{},["Set"],["ShallowReactive",339],{"page-racial-tension-rampant-in-jacksonville-after-black-boys-are-kicked-out-of-fair-for-wearing-memorial-apparel":42,"L5mKWLzO22":42,"7VUhfdt1ev":42},"/racial-tension-rampant-in-jacksonville-after-black-boys-are-kicked-out-of-fair-for-wearing-memorial-apparel",["Reactive",342],{}]