Philadelphia Union soccer player Alejandro Bedoya netted a goal to give his team a 1-0 lead. But there was something else on the midfielder’s mind and he took an opportunity to share his thoughts during his celebration.
After scoring the goal, Bedoya ran over to a field mic at the corner of the field, picked it up and called on Congress to act to end gun violence.
Bedoya yelled, “Congress, do something now. End gun violence. Let’s go!”
Bedoya had also sounded off on the shootings on social media.
“Seeing more thoughts and prayers bullshit. Words without actions are just worthless,” Bedoya wrote. “America, it seems, is becoming a dystopian society. Do something!!! Enough!!!
“I’m not a policymaker either. I’m shouting at those hypocrites to get their shit together. You want some plans. We can start with stricter background checks, red flag laws, making a registry for gun purchases, closing gun show loopholes, and taxing ammunition.”
Bedoya’s call to Congress comes after a violent weekend where at least 29 people were killed in two separate shooting incidents.
On Saturday, August 3, 20 people were killed and 26 others were injured after the gunman open-fired inside of a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. Hours later, in the early hours of Sunday, August 4, 9 people were shot and killed and more than two dozen others were injured at a local bar in Dayton, Ohio.
The gun violence hits close to home for Bedoya, who grew up in Weston, Florida which is 15 minutes away from Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School which was the home of a deadly mass shooting in February 2018 which left 17 people dead.
“”Wore this to support families affected by the tragic event in Parkland,” Bedoya wrote on Twitter following the Parkland shooting. “Grew up 15 min. from Douglas. I grieve with those families but I’ve also been very inspired by movement they’ve started. Thank you for your courage & keep on keepin’ on!””
A great win last night!
Wore this to support families affected by the tragic event in Parkland. Grew up 15 min. from Douglas. I grieve with those families but I’ve also been very inspired by movement they’ve started. Thank you for your courage & keep on keepin’ on! #MSDStrongpic.twitter.com/Wd88iWk9b5
— Alejandro Bedoya (@AleBedoya17) March 4, 2018
Our deepest condolences continue to go out to all of the families and friends who were impacted by the tragic and horrifying events over the weekend in El Paso and Dayton.