DailyExpertNews
†
American tennis star Coco Gauff has said she wants to use her platform to call for an end to gun violence and push for gun reform.
After her semi-final victory at the French Open on Thursday to advance to her first grand slam final, the 18-year-old wrote on a nearby camera lens – as is tradition after a win. But instead of just her signature, Gauff added “Peace End Gun Violence” with an image of a heart.
After her 6-3 6-1 win in a row against Italy’s Martina Trevisan, the American explained that she did not intend to write that message in advance, but that she wanted to get the “important” message out.
“It’s important, just like any person in the world, regardless of tennis player or not. I think it was especially important for me to just be in Europe and be where I know people all over the world are definitely watching,” she said.
“I think this is a problem in other parts of the world, but especially in America, it’s an issue that frankly has been going on for a few years, but it’s clearly getting more attention now. But it’s been a problem for me for years.
“For me it’s a bit close to home. I had some friends who were part of the Parkland shooting. I remember seeing that whole experience pretty much first hand, seeing and having friends go through that whole experience. Fortunately they were able to survive. I just think it’s crazy, I think I was maybe 14 or 13 when that happened, and still nothing has changed.
“I think that was just a message for people at home to watch and for people around the world to watch. Hopefully it will get into the minds of the people in the office to hopefully change things.”
Gauff’s message comes after a recent spate of mass shootings in the US.
In May, an 18-year-old gunman shot and killed 19 children and two adults at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, before being killed by law enforcement officers. Earlier this month, 10 people were killed in a racially motivated mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket by a suspect in tactical gear who live-streamed the attack.
Five people, including the gunman, were killed in a shooting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Wednesday.
On Thursday, US President Joe Biden fervently called for tougher gun laws, including a ban on assault weapons, tougher background check laws and a higher purchase age.
Gauff explained that sports stars must use their platforms to drive change, and she learned a lot about having a voice from other high-profile athletes.
“Absolutely, I’d say LeBron James, Serena (Williams), Billie Jean (King), Colin (Kaepernick), the list goes on, Naomi (Osaka), it’s really about those issues,” she said.
“I think athletes are more now, I feel better to speak out about things like this. I feel like we’re often pigeonholed where people always say, ‘Oh, sports and politics should be kept separate and like this.’ And I say yes, but at the same time I am a human before I am a tennis player.
“If I’m interested in this, I wouldn’t even think about gun violence politics; I guess that’s just life in general. I don’t think that’s political at all. But in general, I think I’m human first. So of course I’m going to care about these issues and speak out about these issues.
“When people make comments, I’m not going to be an athlete forever. There will come a time when I’ll retire and all this, and I’ll still be human. So of course I care about these topics.
“I think sport at least gives you the platform to maybe get that message out to more people.”
Gauff will face Iga Swiatek, the world’s number 1 for women, in the final of the French Open.