TAKING THE KNEE IS SHOULD PROMOTE AT
‘It’s really important at all levels of sport that everyone is together’ -
‘I don’t think the message will ever be lost. It’s not going to disappear, it’s only going to get more amplified.’
That’s the verdict of Havant mayor Prad Bains on the impact made by the Black Lives Matter movement during the last 10 months.
Bains has been delighted to see elite athletes throw their support behind BLM by taking the knee at high profile events worldwide since the death of George Floyd in America last May.
Players continue to take the knee at all Premier League games;
World champion Lewis Hamilton showed his support for BLM by taking the knee prior to Formula 1 races;
Cricketers continue to take the knee at international, club and franchise level.
Now Bains would like to see sports governing bodies such as the Football Association extend the message far beyond the top flight of English football.
‘Black Lives Matter is a really positive movement it’s about diversity, inclusion, and I really support all that,’ he said.
‘There’s so much emotion and passion behind their message.
‘It’s had an impact already, and I don’t think the message will ever be lost.
‘It’s not going to disappear, it’s only going to get more amplified.’
Bainsrigh, below , is a trailblazer in local politics - not only the youngest ever Mayor of Havant, he’s also the first from a BAME background.
‘I’m really proud of my Indian heritage - it’s certainly not something to shy away from and not talk about,’ he remarked. ‘And that’s the same of people whatever your religion, faith, race or background. None of those factors should be an issue.
‘I’m 100 per cent in support of Lewis Hamilton taking the knee and the Premier League doing the same.
‘I would be happy to see players taking the knee for as long as it takes, otherwise you’re not going to get the result that we are all striving towards.’
Bains, a goalkeeper at Hampshire Premier League club Denmead, is in favour of players taking the knee on parks pitches across the country in addition to the likes of Anfield and The Etihad.
‘I don’t know why it doesn’t happen in non-league football or at grassroots level, in children’s football.
‘It’s about what it (taking the knee) represents, and that’s the same whether you’re an elite sportsman or someone involved at grassroots level.
‘I would fully support taking the knee at our level, and I know everyone at Denmead would be supportive.
‘Football brings people together, football promotes equality - you need to drive it from there.
‘We have great diverse communities that we need to shout about and be proud of.
‘If we really want to get the message across, we need non-league football and grassroots involved.
‘It’s really important to continue to get the message out there to improve the awareness of equality. ‘It’s really important at all levels of sport, and for society as a whole, that everyone stands together.’
Taking the knee at elite football matches is no longer across the board some clubs at Championship and EFL level have stopped doing it.
Last month, Crystal Palace winger Crystal Palace player Wilfried Zaha became the first Premier League player to stop taking the
I would be happy to see players taking the knee for as long as it takes
knee, calling it a ‘degrading’ experience.
Brentford, pushing for promotion to the Premier League, are also standing en masse with striker Ivan Toney telling the media: ‘We are being used as puppets.’
Elsewhere, in the opening round of Six Nations games
Prad Bains