French track sprinter and Olympic medalist Gregory Boger spoke out about racism in professional cycling following the massive worldwide protests that followed the death of George Floyd.

Boje said that while he has not personally experienced outright racism at the highest levels of cycling, racism is part of everyday life for black cyclists.

"Racism is present in all aspects of life. It should not be the norm. I don't know when we will get out of this," Borger told Cyclism'actu.

Protests in the U.S. and other cities around the world erupted after the death of George Floyd, who was accused by a store owner of passing counterfeit money. The Minnesota Attorney General announced Wednesday that he will charge Derek Shovin, the police officer who calmly knelt at Floyd's neck for more than eight minutes before Floyd died, with second-degree murder. [It's been about a week since George Floyd's death. One more to go, there are too many and I don't feel like things are changing. I'm trying to stay positive, and I have to stay positive, but it hurts so much," Baugier said. [Racism has always been a part of our lives. Of course it is regrettable and unfortunate, but we learn to live with it."

"Since being involved in cycling at the highest level, I haven't necessarily felt the effects of racism. That said, I do know that Kevin Reza went through a difficult first few years due to racist behavior and he did not receive the proper support.

Reza turned pro with Team Europcar in 2011, and in 2014, his second Tour de France, he was heckled by then-Orica GreenEdge's Michael Albasini for not joining a breakaway group. Albasini later apologized and denied racism, saying his comments were misunderstood due to the language barrier.

In 2017, Reza's teammate Sebastian Reichenbach called out Gianni Moscon on Twitter for racially abusing Reza at the Tour de Romandie. Team Sky suspended Moscon but left him on the team.

Baugier explained that black athletes often suffer from silence and are unable to speak out for fear of not being supported by those in power.

"We suffer and we are alone. The soccer world says it is against racism, but does nothing about it in practice." The authorities don't see it as a problem, and if it doesn't bring in more money, they will soon lose interest."

Borger said he could understand why the protests turned violent.

"I understand the violence that followed the death of George Floyd. It shouldn't exist, but there is a lot of frustration because it feels like there is no one to plead our case."

Where to Donate

These funds have been set up to support protesters, families of victims, and black businesses and charities in the United States and abroad. If you are able, consider setting up a recurring donation to one of the following organizations to provide sustained support beyond this moment.

Campaign Zero - Launched by Black Lives Matter activists, Campaign Zero is a national organization that works with lawmakers at all levels to end police brutality and institutional racism through thoroughly researched policy solutions

Reclaiming the "Racism in America.

Reclaim the Block - Founded in 2015, this group organizes local Minneapolis communities and city councils to redirect funds from police departments to other initiatives that promote health and safety.

Black Lives Matter Resources - The linked Black Lives Matter website includes a comprehensive list of donors: victims, protesters, black businesses, legal defense funds, and large and small fundraisers that support the black community and the "Black Lives Matter" movement activities, and more.

The Marshall Project - non-profit journalism that "seeks to create and sustain a national sense of urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system."

NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund - One of America's largest legal organizations fighting for racial justice. It focuses on litigation, education, and advocacy.

Bail Bonds - a list of places to donate if you want to contribute to bail bonds for protesters arrested in Minneapolis, Atlanta, New York, and many other cities; with ActBlue, you can easily split your donation among many funds, but keep in mind that the organization charges its own transaction fees.

Coming to terms with the events of the past week has not been easy. Violence and anger are sometimes almost incomprehensible. As we all struggle to understand how to cope and what to do, we have found several videos, books, and articles that can be helpful. We have tried to combine materials that provide context and broaden our understanding.

7 Virtual Mental Health Resources Supporting Black People Today - For readers in need of emotional support, writer Jesse Sparks has compiled a list of virtual mental health resources serving the black community Black Girls See also Smile's list of resources.

Bad Form Review's Reading List - books on institutional racism in the US, the Black Lives Matter movement, social justice, etc., and links to independent bookstores.

For White Friends Who Want to Be Allies - Courtney Ariel's article is a great outline for white people who want to help elevate others without inadvertently talking about themselves.

Anti-Racism Resources for White People - An exhaustive list of anti-racism media, including movies to watch, essays to read, and people to follow to further educate yourself.

The Case for Redemption - A deeply reported article by Ta-Nehisi Coates that uses personal stories to illustrate the damage caused by centuries of racist government policies.

What do demands to "fund the police" mean? What about "abolish prisons"? You probably won't hear mainstream politicians discussing these ideas, but you may see them on protest signs. If these demands are new to you, abolitionist @jaybeware has a brief explanation in his Twitter thread. See also Angela Davis's book, "Are Prisons Obsolete?"

If you plan to attend a physical protest, here are some useful links to make sure you have everything you need to stay safe. What to Bring to a Peaceful Protest-Vice's guide to what to bring to a protest.

Protect your protest - A detailed plan for keeping yourself and others safe during a protest.

How to protect your cell phone from cops before heading to a protest - A how-to on protecting your cell phone data by Gizmodo.

ACLU Know your rights - Everything you need to know about your rights as a protester and what to do if you are detained by police.