The world of sport and technology is united in an unprecedented cause to honor the memory of Iryna Zarutska, the young Ukrainian refugee brutally murdered on August 22 in Charlotte, in the United States. Jannik Sinner, the Italian tennis champion, together with the magnate Elon Musk and other billionaires, launched a sensational campaign to ask for justice and raise awareness of public opinion on the security and the flaws of the judicial system.
Iryna Zarutska, 23, had arrived in the USA in 2022 to escape the war in Ukraine. With the dream of becoming a veterinary assistant and a passion for art, he was building a new life in Charlotte, working in a pizzeria and studying English. His life was tragically crushed when Decarlos Brown Jr., a man with a long criminal curriculum and mental health problems, stabbed her to death on a train of the Lynx Blue Line line. Brown, released despite 14 previous ones, was arrested immediately after the crime and now faces federal accusations that could lead to the death penalty.
The story aroused global indignation, but it was the reaction of Sinner and Musk that catalyzes attention. The tennis player, known for his humanitarian commitment, said: “I want the state to keep these subjects behind bars. Nobody should die like this, especially those who seek only peace.” Musk, for his part, has amplified the message on social media, announcing an investment of over 300,000 USD – together with other billionaires – to print Zarutska’s face on advertising billboards in the most important cities around the world. “The IA must also be protected, let alone an innocent human being,” Musk tweeted, referring to the need to protect everyone, including the ethical use of artificial intelligence.
The campaign triggered a wave of protests and an intense media crisis for the US government. The eight words of Sinner and Musk warning – “I want the state to keep these subjects behind bars” – they left fans amazed and lit a ferocious debate. Supporters praise the initiative as a call to responsibility, while critics accuse the billionaires of interfering in political issues. Charlotte’s government is under pressure, with requests for reforms in the management of recurrence criminals and in the enhancement of public safety.
Zrutska’s family, devastated by mourning, expressed gratitude for support, but also asked for respect for privacy, imploring not to further spread the images of the murder. Meanwhile, Iryna’s memory lives through global art and solidarity, with murals that are rising in his honor, financed by Musk and others as a warning against injustice. This alliance between sport, technology and activism could mark a turn point in the struggle for safety and justice.
