Philadelphia Union’s midfielder Alejandro Bedoya was moved to send a message from an on-field microphone during a Sunday game following the shootings in El Paso and Dayton, writes Grant Wahl for Sports Illustrated.

He implored Congress to “Do something now. End gun violence. Let’s go”.  His remarks, carried during the nationally televised game, went viral around the world.

Bedoya got public support from the Philadelphia Union, his coach Jim Curtin, the MLS Players Union and the public and media. In fact, the M.L.S. named him the league’s player of the week.

“Yes, we’re blessed with our athletic ability maybe, but before we’re athletes we’re human beings,” he said in a Tuesday interview with SI.com.  “We feel this stuff. We’re not robots.”

Bedoya was inspired to take action. Before he left the locker room, he said he prayed for the victims of the massacres and their families and communities. “I happened to score early,” he said, “so it was fresh in my mind.”

He described it as a politically non-partisan statement.

“I think many Americans and people in general share the same sentiment and emotions and feelings. I didn’t blame anybody,” he said.

Read more about Bedoya’s message here.

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