Former tennis star Martina Navratilova on George Floyd killing: ‘Time to riot everywhere’

Former tennis star Martina Navratilova tweeted Thursday that it’s “time to riot everywhere” following the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died on Monday following a violent police arrest in Minneapolis that was caught on video. 

Clashes between protesters and law enforcement have since erupted in the Twin Cities, resulting in major property damage, dozens of fires and at least one death. 

Navratilova sent the provocative tweet on Thursday afternoon to her more than 300,000 followers. 

The tweet drew immediate blowback on social media. 

Navratilova deleted the tweet after her responses-to-retweets ration reached 15-to-1, with almost all reactions condemning the tweet, but she defended her choice of words, saying she was not making “a call to any violence whatsoever.”

The 63-year-old retired from tennis in 2006 after winning 18 Grand Slam titles, tied for fifth all-time. 

The Czech-born Navratilova became a U.S. citizen in 1981. 

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