Monday 14 June 2021
Anti-racists slam Home Secretary’s defence of England fans booing take the knee as deliberate distraction from covid crisis & giving succour to far right
Anti racists have criticised Home Secretary Priti Patel for stating England fans have a right to boo the England team taking the knee. Campaigners say the intervention is deliberately timed to distract from the government’s delaying of covid unlocking and an approaching third wave.
The Home Secretary’s intervention comes after England won a historic victory over Croatia yesterday. The majority of fans applauded the England team for taking the knee before kick off.
Outside Wembley stadium a tiny group of far right activists demonstrated against taking the knee. Campaigners say Patel’s statements are giving succour to the far right who are using football to build support.
Sabby Dhalu, Stand up to Racism Co-Convenor said:
“After England’s historic victory in winning an opening match against Croatia at Euro 2020, the majority of fans applauding England players taking the knee and a pathetic protest by the far right at Wembley Stadium, Priti Patel’s agenda is clear. This issue was settled yesterday. It is no accident that Patel’s intervention coincides with news that full unlocking of economy will be delayed. Patel is putting the taking the knee back on the agenda to distract from the emerging Covid 3rd wave and the government’s appalling handling of the crisis. This dangerous intervention will encourage the far right. We urge fans to get behind the England team, applaud the team and sign our statement.”
Former footballer Shaka Hislop, poet, author and former Children’s Laureate Mike Rosen, Unite the Union General Secretary Len McCluskey, Unison General Secretary Christina McAnea, Diane Abbott MP, John McDonnell MP were among the signatories of a statement condemning the far right protest yesterday at Wembley Stadium against the England team taking the knee. The protest was promoted by Steven Yaxley-Lennon AKA ‘Tommy Robinson’ and others on the far right.
The statement urges fans to applaud the players when they take the knee:
“We reject racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism and attempts by the far right to use football to build support. We stand in solidarity with all teams who choose to #TakeTheKnee in support of #BlackLivesMatter and in opposition to racism. We call on all fans to show their solidarity with their teams taking the knee before kick off by applauding the players.”
The statement also slams the Tories for failing to take a stronger line against fans booing England footballers when taking the knee.”
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, and to leave nothing in doubt, Priti Patel’s disgraceful comments today have made crystal clear that this goverment would unequivocally rather give a green light to the danger and division of racism in the terraces and in society than miss an opportunity to attack the anti racist movement.”
For more information, interviews and further quotes:
info@standuptoracism.org.uk
