Alejandro Bedoya celebrates goal in D.C. by grabbing field mic, telling Congress to 'end gun violence'

Alejandro Bedoya got the Philadelphia Union off to a hot start on Sunday, scoring a goal in just the third minute of their 5-1 victory over D.C. United in the nation’s capital.

It wasn’t his goal that turned heads, however, but rather what came after.

Shortly after Bedoya celebrated with his teammates, the Union captain ran over to the field microphone at Audi Field and delivered an extremely clear message to Congress.

“Hey Congress, do something now!” Bedoya yelled into the mic, which was being broadcast nationally on Fox Sports 1. “End gun violence, let’s go!”

Bedoya’s message came one day after a pair of mass shootings rocked the nation.

A man opened fire inside a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday morning, killing 20 people and injuring dozens more. The shooting marked the deadliest of the year. Then, later that night across the country, a man opened fire at a bar in Dayton, Ohio. He killed nine people, including his own sister, and injured 27 more.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, the Dayton shooting marked the 251st mass shooting this year, and Sunday marks just the 216th calendar day. The GVA defines a mass shooting as any gun incident in which four or more people were shot.

In response to the El Paso shooting, Mexico’s foreign minister said the country plans to take legal action against whoever sold the suspected shooter the gun used in what he called a “terrorist act,” according to the Associated Press.

Marco Fabian, who was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, scored twice for the Union, including a goal right before halftime to double the lead:

After the game, Bedoya and Union head coach Jim Curtin spoke to the press about the importance of using their platform to speak about issues that are plaguing their community.

Bedoya expressed his disdain with the lack of action regarding gun violence before the match, too, calling for more than just the customary “thoughts and prayers” that so often follows mass shootings.

He followed that up hours later with ideas for lawmakers after a user called him out for not providing a “plan” or “substance” when calling for action.

Only time will tell if Bedoya’s message, delivered less than two miles from Capitol Hill, will leave a lasting impact on lawmakers.

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