RIO DE JANEIRO — As Feyisa Lilesa crossed the finish line of the men's marathon Sunday, he crossed his arms above his head.
The gesture was a sign of protest the Ethiopian runner, who won silver behind Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, said at a news conference.
"The Ethiopian government are killing the Oromo people and taking their land and resources so the Oromo people are protesting and I support the protest as I am Oromo," he said. "The Ethiopian government is killing my people so I stand with all protests anywhere as Oromo is my tribe.