TAYLOR: I BACK ANTI- RACISM... BUT NOT BLACK LIVES MATTER
NOTTINGHAM FOREST’S Lyle Taylor is refusing to take the knee as a protest against the organisers of Black Lives Matter.
Taylor, of mixed race himself, supports anti- racism but questions the aims of the campaign.
He did not take the knee before Nottingham Forest’s home FA Cup tie with Cardiff and is urging research into the organisation behind Black Lives Matter.
“My support for what it is we are trying to achieve is absolute,” said Taylor. “But I do not support Black Lives Matter as an institution, as an organisation.
“I’d request anyone who does blindly support Black Lives Matter to actually have a look at what that organisation does and what it actually stands for.”
Taylor also questioned the mainstream media’s backing for Black Lives Matter.
“It’s scandalous the fact that the whole world, and the whole world’s media, got behind Black Lives
Matter,” he said.
“Not the message, because black lives do matter and I understand what the point of it is.
“The BBC, Sky, all of them saying Black Lives Matter, it’s not a good idea because of what the organisation stands for.
“I’ve done my fair amount of research and in terms of black lives actually mattering, and black people being killed by police more frequently, it’s not a good thing.
“But I think we have to get to a point of realising that this isn’t about black lives matter anymore.
“It’s about a company, an organisation with the increased publicity, the money that’s been thrown their way and where it’s gone.
“The message has been diluted beyond belief. Black lives do matter but you will never hear me saying Black Lives Matter again in reference to that company.
“There’s channels and there’s avenues we have to go down to do this the right way. Otherwise we’ll end up with martial law or civil unrest.”
Taylor, 30, has a black father and white mother and comes from south London. He joined Nottingham Forest from Charlton this season and cleared his decision not to take the knee with Forest boss Chris Hughton, himself one of the few black managers in British football.
“I have had no criticism, none whatsoever, for the stance I am taking,” Taylor added. “If people ask me my opinions you’ll know I’m not scared of voicing them.”