Campaign group Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) are again calling for people across Britain to take the knee on their doorstep, workplace or locality at 6pm on Wednesday to show their solidarity with the growing worldwide Black Lives Matter movement for justice for George Floyd and action on racism.
Last Wednesday, tens of thousands joined the call. The #taketheknee hashtag trended no.1 on twitter with over 25 thousand tweets, many posting pictures of their households and workplaces with home made signs. Those taking part included The Fire Brigade service, with many watches joining together to take the knee outside their fire station. SIngers Paloma Faith and Bronnie also tweeted to show their support for the action.
Campaigners hope that making this a weekly event will help the movement grow and inspire thousands to join calls to address institutional racism. Many will be holding the names of those who have died after police contact or in racist attacks where families of the victim never received justice, of from COVID-19 while trying to do their job.
An independent public inquiry into the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities is a central demand of many, and Diane Abbott MP has submitted an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons to that effect. Concerns have also been raised about the premature easing of the lockdown leading to a second wave of coronavirus infections, which could further disproportionately impact on BAME communities.
Wednesday will also see local Stand Up To Racism groups hold strictly socially distanced protests to express solidarity with the movement for justice for George Floyd, and to raise the call for action on instututional racism.
Sabby Dhalu, Stand up To Racism Co-Convenor said:
“The inspiring worldwide Black Lives Matter movement is already achieving change thought inconceivable weeks ago, but we have a long way to go.
“These weekly #TakeTheKnee protests are for anybody, wherever they are, to pledge their support in the campaign against institutional racism, for justice for George Floyd and for all who have died at the hands of police, in racist attacks and to take a stand against Britain’s imperialist and colonial past.
“The racism we see today: black people dying in police custody, rising racist attacks, the Windrush scandal, the preventable deaths of thousands of black people from COVID-19, are a legacy of imperialism and colonialism.
“#TakeTheKnee is an opportunity to stand with the millions across the world suffering from racism, join the call for real change, for a world without racism and make Black Lives Matter a reality.”
Weyman Bennett, Stand Up To Racism Co-Convenor said:
“As Frederick Douglas said, if there is no struggle, there is no progress. Anyone who has heard from the families of those who died at the hands of the police, who have never obtained justice, will know the progress we need to see on racism is long overdue.
As we #TakeTheKnee together at 6pm on Wednesday, let us pledge to take part in that struggle not just now, but until black people in the US and Britain can no longer be killed by state officials with impunity, until institutional racism is dealt with, and until the hostile environment that led to the Windrush Scandal is defeated.”
Notes to editors:
1) A picture gallery of actions across the country last Wednesday can be found here. These pictures and those at twitter.com/antiracismday can be used with credit to Stand Up To Racism
2) The action to take the knee is inspired by American quarterback Colin Kaepernick bending to one knee during the National Anthem in 2016 to draw attention to racial injustice and police brutality, and expresses solidarity with the movement in Minneapolis, across the US and around the world, with thousands protesting their anger at institutional racism and police brutality in Britain.
3) Stand Up To Racism is a national, broad based campaign set up to combat the rise of racism, the far right and fascism, and is supported by major trade unions, faith and community groups.
For further details and quotes email: info@standuptoracism.org.uk