‘I’m still a U.S. citizen and I still feel compelled to act toward a more just society,’ Honnold said.
Alex Honnold, world-renowned rock climber and star of the Oscar-winning documentary “Free Solo,” confirmed he will attend the protests over the police killing of George Floyd. He is perhaps the most visible outdoor celebrity to speak up on the protests over police brutality and Floyd’s death on May 25.
Honnold joins the likes of Conrad Anker, Lynsey Dyer, Kilian Jornet, Sasha DiGiulian, and “Free Solo” director Jimmy Chin — among others — who have publicly spoken out in support of protesters. But the 34-year-old climber is one of few who have confirmed they will attend a public protest.
“Tonight I’ll be headed downtown to join demonstrators who are gathering for the 7th night in a row to protest the murder of George Floyd. Though really it seems that the protests are about a system that has undervalued black and brown lives for generations,” Honnold wrote in a Facebook post.
Today marks the 3 year anniversary of my free solo of El Cap. I’ve never worked harder for a climb and I’m still…
Posted by Alex Honnold on Wednesday, June 3, 2020
Honnold also noted that today marks the 3-year anniversary of his momentous climb — an achievement he said was afforded by privilege.
He said, “I’ve never worked harder for a climb and I’m still incredibly proud of my efforts. But current events have really helped remind me how privileged I am to be able to put my time and effort into quixotic dreams like El Cap.”
