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“I’m asking you to stand with me. Lock arms. Walk with me. Step up and let the people know that this is not good.”

Nat St. Laurent, head coach of the Premier Lacrosse League’s Redwoods LC and the Ohio Northern men’s lacrosse team, was one of many people in the lacrosse community to speak out about racial discrimination following the death of George Floyd and the ensuing protests across the country.

St. Laurent said it’s up to coaches and leaders to practice what they preach.

“We’re always asking our players to be the best version of themselves,” he said in a video he posted on Twitter. “We’re using phrases like, ‘Well done is better than well said.’ One of my favorites is, ‘We have to get comfortable being uncomfortable.’

“And here I am looking around, and I see so many friends, colleagues — people that I look up to and love — coaches, not saying a word. I get that it’s uncomfortable. It’s uncomfortable for me to talk about and me to witness and me to try to explain to my young 11-, 7- and 5-year-old children, but I’m doing it.”

St. Laurent’s powerful message asked for support for the black community beyond just talking about respect and empathy.

“I’m not asking you to be heroes and come up with great speeches, but I need you,” he said. “Our young people need you. Our country needs you. Please do what you’re preaching to your team year in and year out. Step up. Be the best version of yourself.

“Get comfortable being uncomfortable. What a great lesson. A great opportunity for all of us to learn. Well done is greater than well said. Here’s our opportunity as coaches and leaders.”

Friday evening, Jules Heningburg — one of St. Laurent’s Redwoods players — posted his first-person story about racial discrimination that he’s experienced as a biracial man. With his permission, US Lacrosse Magazine shared his story Saturday.

“You are never white enough to be accepted by white people and never black enough to be accepted by black people, entirely,” he wrote. “That is the reality I dealt with my entire life. My light skin, wavy brown hair could go either way.

“The question, ‘What are you?’ would be asked often. How are you supposed to respond to that? I am an American, born and raised.”

On Monday, US Lacrosse released a statement condemning racial injustice:

“US Lacrosse stands together in solidarity with those members of our community who routinely feel the weight of oppression, systemic racism, hate and a failing system of justice. We will continue to work to make the lacrosse community an agent of change for all who play and support the Creator’s game. Throughout its history, our sport has brought so many people together, and it’s our hope that we will emerge from this challenge a stronger community, a stronger sport and a stronger nation.”

Others in the lacrosse community stepped up to either speak out against racial discrimination or support friends, teammates or others in the black community.

In an Instagram video, Trevor Baptiste recalled growing up as one of the only black people in his community. His video called for people to question the “systemic stigma that everybody is conditioned to feel toward African-American people,” and then prompted viewers to reflect upon themselves.

“What I want to ask everyone, really, is, what does being black mean to you?” he asked. “Even if you’re not black. If you’re white, Hispanic, Asian, what does that mean? Whatever you come up with, don’t get upset with yourself, even if it’s positive or negative. But I want you to be really, really truthful with what you think that means. And then once you come to that, ask yourself, why do you think that? What has painted you that picture of our race? And what are you going to do to change it?”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Peace and love. #ripgeorgefloyd

A post shared by Trevor Baptiste (@trevorbaptiste9) on

Kyle Harrison asked for people to reach out and voice support for the black community and then prove the support is real. The conversation between Harrison and Paul Rabil was posted on Rabil’s Twitter account.

“What I can speak for as a black man, what I want when it comes down to support and empathy, is for it to be real and for you as my friend to tell me that you’re there,” Harrison said. “That’s it, and I need to know that that’s true.”

The Premier Lacrosse League, Major League Lacrosse, the National Lacrosse League and the Women's Professional Lacrosse League issued statements condemning violence and discrimination against people of color.

Greg Gurenlian, who recently retired from professional lacrosse after spending last season with the Redwoods, called for education to start at home. He said people who have not experienced the same injustice as others should listen and be empathetic.

“Because we saw color, we were taught to be emphatic and realize that every person in this country lives in a different world and has a different set of experiences and has a different set of hurdles, ones that I would never understand unless I asked about them,” Gurenlian said.

Below, see a collection of social media posts from other members of the lacrosse community who chose to use their platforms to speak out.​

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I stand with these men. I took the weekend to really take in everything that’s going on in the world. I didn’t rush to say anything on social media because I’ve been raised that Well Done > Well Said. We can say things, but what does that actually do. It’s a start yes, but we need more than that. We need to start small, with ourselves. If we can’t change ourselves, we can’t change anything. So for me, being a better teammate, opponent, friend, colleague and professional to those in our sport. Showing your love, a hug, phone call or text. That’s where I’ll start, and I urge young lacrosse players to do the same. You are the ones that can really make a difference for the future. Be accepting and be inclusive of everyone. Start with your team and go on from there. Many of these men have had a great impact on me and I value our relationship, some I just compete against and they have my respect, some I don’t know. I stand by them and they have my full support!

A post shared by Rob Pannell (@robpannell3) on