For immediate release…
Tuesday 8 June 2021
Anti-racists have condemned Boris Johnson’s failure to call out the minority of England supporters who have booed the team for taking the knee at the two recent international friendlies against Austria and Romania.
Johnson’s statement said he “fully respects the right of those who choose to peacefully protest and make their feelings known” and “On taking the knee, specifically, the prime minister is more focused on action rather than gestures’. However these so-called actions include the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparities (CRED) which has been widely condemned by anti-racists who say that far from taking action against racism the CRED report concedes to racism.
Tory MP Brendan Clarke-Smith has rightly been under fire after comparing Take The Knee to England footballers performing the Nazi salute during a 1938 match with Germany.
Another Tory MP for Ashfield in Nottinghamshire has stated he will boycott England games because of Take The Knee. Neither MP has been condemned by Boris Johnson.
Now videos are circulating calling for protests at England’s first game at Euro 2021 against Croatia on Sunday – from 1pm at Wembley stadium.
These videos are being promoted by fascist thug Tommy Robinson.
A host of right wing figures including former UKIP leader Nigel Farage – who said ‘fans’ have a right to boo when players take the knee for Marxist BLM’.
Former actor and right wing politician Lawrence Fox joined in the attacks on the players, England’s manager Gareth Southgate and BBC pundit Gary Linekar who had opposed the booing and supported the teams anti-racist stance.
Weyman Bennett, Stand up to Racism Co-Convenor said:
“Players are being condemned for opposing racism and saying that Black Lives Matter. It’s not the #TakeTheKnee that is divisive but those that boo this clear statement of anti-racism’.
Boris Johnson should have been as clear and unrestrained in his support for the players and the team’s anti-racist statement as England’s manager Gareth Southgate has been. Just as with his misleading comments about the Churchill statue last summer Johnson is giving succor and confidence to the Far Right.”
Sabby Dhalu, Stand up to Racism Co-Convenor said:
“Albert Einstein said ‘The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.’ England players taking the knee in opposition to racism are good people saying no to the evils of racism and must be applauded.
Boris Johnson should have condemned abominable Tory MP’s attacking England players and comparing taking the knee to Nazi salutes, and those booing the footballers at matches. Johnson’s failure to do so is conceding to the far right with Tommy Robinson circulating details of a demonstration at Wembley stadium opposing the players taking the knee. The lesson of history is that racists and fascists must be robustly condemned and opposed.”
For more information, interviews and further quotes:
info@standuptoracism.org.uk
