Serena Williams speaks out about how she learned to cope after her sister’s murder
Tennis star Serena Williams has revealed the coping mechanisms she adopted after hearing about her sister’s tragic murder.
Yetunde Price, the half-sister of Serena and Venus Williams, was a victim of a Los Angeles gangland shooting in 2003, where she was shot dead with a stray bullet.
Price was working as a part-time assistant to her two athlete sisters before her demise.
Sitting down with 12-year-old Naomi Wadler – a gun activist who rose to fame after speaking at the March for our Lives rally in Washington DC in 2018 – Williams’ discussed the hardship she faced after her sister’s brutal murder.
“I was affected personally by gun violence,” Williams told Wadler.
“My sister, unfortunately, passed from that.
“People are talking about it now because it’s happening more widespread, but it’s been affecting our community for years.”
The 23-time grand slam champion also shared how she coped during that dark period of her life.
“I think we need to get comfortable with having uncomfortable conversations,” said the 37-year-old.
“Situations are never really gonna get better if you always avoid it, you have to take it head-on.”
And despite her tender age, Wadler proved she was beyond her years by showing understanding and compassion.
The high school student was asked to speak at the Washington rally after she organised a walk-out at her school, to show solidarity with other student-led initiatives across the US.
The protests generally ran for 17 minutes, a minute for every victim at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland. But Wadler added an extra 60 seconds to honour Courtlin Arrington, an African American teenager who was shot dead at the high school Wadler attended.
“African American women, when they are shot and killed … their names aren’t remembered, so I thought it was important to add,” said Wadler on the day of the protest.