Sportspeople sometimes get a raw deal.

Often they stand accused of earning too much money, not living in the real world or being poor role models: the list goes on. Yet, just sometimes, sportspeople do something that really resonates throughout the wider world. This is what has happened in the United States over the last few weeks and it proves that some athletes at least, are willing to use their high profile to support a cause they believe in.

The major story across the Atlantic in recent weeks has been the protests which have spread the length and breadth of America over the killing of Michael Brown, the unarmed black teenager who was shot dead by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. The protests were sparked when a jury chose not to indict Darren Wilson, the police officer who shot Brown. It has been reported that Brown had his hands up at the moment he was shot, which added to the feeling of many Americans that the police use excessive, unjustified force, particularly against black men.

Then, a few weeks later, it was announced that the NYPD police officer who choked a black man, Eric Garner, to death should not face trial. The police had stopped Garner on suspicion of selling loose cigarettes. He was wrestled to the ground by the police and forcibly restrained. He later died. Garner's last words were "I can't breathe."

These two cases have captured the attention of not only America, but the rest of the world. The hashtag 'Hands Up, Don't Shoot', became a rallying cry for those who were appalled by Brown's killing; the 'I Can't Breathe' slogan was used by protestors in memory of Garner. As the protests grew following the decision not to take any action against Wilson for killing Brown, more and more Americans expressed their view on the issue.

This is where sport comes in. Just before the start of an NFL match against the Oakland Raiders, five St Louis Rams players stood pitchside with their arms raised in a show of solidarity with the Ferguson protestors. The players' actions met with a mixed response: some praised them for their courage in showing support for the Brown protestors, others criticised them heavily for bringing politics into sport. The St Louis Police Officers organisation went as far as to call the players act of protest "inflammatory" and "tasteless", while calling for the players involved to be disciplined. The backlash even stretched to supporters burning Rams merchandise, so unhappy were they with the decision of the players to use the platform their team provides to support the protestors, although the team ultimately decided not to punish the men in question.

This was not the end of the matter, though. A few weeks later, following the decision not to indict the officer in the Garner killing, the 'I Can't Breathe' slogan disseminated throughout the sporting sphere. The NBA player Derrick Rose was the first to wear a t-shirt with the 'I Can't Breathe' slogan emblazoned on it during the warm-up for a match. Then the gesture spread like wildfire throughout the NBA and the NFL, with numerous players copying his action. The reaction to this protest was markedly different to the Rams hands-up protest, with no calls for disciplinary action to be taken this time. The NBA Commissioner stated that the players would not be fined, saying: "I respect Derrick Rose and all of our players for voicing their personal views on important issues."

The players themselves admitted that they are not on the front line of the protests - the thousands of individuals who are protesting out on the streets of America are likely to make more of an impact - yet the athletes have made a valuable addition to this debate. It is often said that politics and sport should not mix and, in the majority of cases, this is the best way forward. Occasionally, though, it is positive that they do combine.

For high-profile athletes to show their support to these causes is important. Sportspeople should be allowed to express a view on issues outside of sport, however contentious that may be. Four members of Congress did the 'Hands-up" gesture on the House Floor to show their support for the Ferguson protestors and athletes should be afforded the same privilege.

The most renowned protest inside a sporting arena was John Carlos and Tommie Smith's raised glove Black Power salute during the medal ceremony of the 1968 Olympics. At the time, the pair were punished heavily for their act - they were suspended from the US team and received death threats - but the importance of their gesture is now widely recognised.

That NFL and NBA players have shown their support to this wave of activism which is currently sweeping America should be applauded. They are risking much yet feel strongly enough to continue regardless. Often, actions speak louder than words. These American athletes-turned-activists may not realise for years yet just how important their actions have been.