Washington (AFP)

Basketball star LeBron James announced on Wednesday the creation with other sportsmen of an association to promote the vote of black Americans in the run-up to the presidential election, while the country is experiencing a major movement against discrimination racial.

"This is the time for us to finally change things," said LeBron James in an interview with The New York Times.

The association called "More Than a Vote" aims to encourage African-Americans to register on the electoral roll and to go to the polls in large numbers during the November 3 election.

It also aims to combat anything that could hamper the voting capacity of black voters.

"Yes, we want you to go out and vote, but we also want to give you a tutorial to do it," said the NBA star. "We will explain to you how to vote and we will point out what they are doing, on the other side, to prevent you from voting," he added.

LeBron James, who has more than 136 million followers on his Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts, said he would use social media to denounce attempts to obstruct the voting rights of minorities across the country.

Financed personally by the "King James", the association will count among its members other athletes, such as basketball players Trae Young and Jalen Rose, the American football player Alvin Kamara or celebrities like the actor Kevin Hart, present at the tribute ceremony for George Floyd in Minneapolis in early June.

The organization will work in collaboration with other associations promoting the vote such as We All Vote and Fair Fight, reports the New York daily.

This initiative takes place as the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, asphyxiated by a white policeman who put his knee on his neck on May 25, sparked protests across the country against racism, inequality and police violence.

LeBron James, like many American basketball personalities, had expressed his anger and indignation at this police blunder on Instagram relaying the last words of George Floyd "I can't breathe".

The Los Angeles Lakers star, known for her political commitment, had supported Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton during the campaign for the 2016 presidential election.

Through his LeBron James Family foundation, the basketball player also finances the university studies of high school students from disadvantaged neighborhoods and has set up a school support program.

Also the owner of a production company, he will produce a documentary on the violent racial riots in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where historians estimate that up to 300 African Americans were killed in 1921.

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