Black Lives Matter: The place does ‘taking a knee’ come from?

Protesters world wide have been “taking a knee” at demonstrations following the demise of George Floyd in police custody within the US state of Minnesota, whereas the UK’s overseas secretary has been criticised for wrongly saying the gesture appeared to be taken from TV present Recreation of Thrones.

The place does taking a knee as a type of protest come from?

NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat on the bench in the course of the US nationwide anthem to protest in opposition to police brutality and racism in a pre-season sport on 26 August 2016.

After discussing his motivations with Nate Boyer, a army veteran and former NFL participant, Kaepernick switched from sitting to kneeling on one knee on 1 September 2016, producing nationwide media consideration.

Kaepernick mentioned on the time: “I’m not going to face up to take pride in a flag for a rustic that oppresses black individuals and other people of color.”

Kaepernick’s former teammate, Eric Reid, who started kneeling with him, mentioned: “We selected to kneel as a result of it is a respectful gesture. I bear in mind considering our posture was like a flag flown at half-mast to mark a tragedy.”

What was the response on the time?

Some followers weren’t proud of Kaepernick’s actions, calling them unpatriotic and accusing him of disrespecting the flag.

US President Barack Obama defended the participant’s constitutional proper to make an announcement, and pointed to the lengthy historical past of sports activities figures protesting.

However the next 12 months, lately inaugurated President Donald Trump mentioned that Kaepernick, and every other gamers who joined him, ought to be fired by their groups.

His feedback divided opinion and led to scores of athletes, managers and coaches – throughout a number of sports activities – performing some form of protest or gesture of solidarity in September 2017.

• NFL kneelers ‘should not be in nation’
• ‘We have been flawed’: NFL to permit gamers’ protest

In 2018, the NFL launched a rule requiring gamers to face in the course of the anthem, however this has since been repealed.

Kaepernick himself stopped enjoying for the 49ers in 2017 and has not had a contract since.

What’s occurred at Black Lives Matter protests?

Taking a knee has turn into a typical sight at demonstrations within the wake of George Floyd’s demise.

Beginning on the finish of Could in Minnesota, protesters took the knee and known as on the police to hitch them.

Kaepernick supplied help to the protesters and supplied to assist these arrested with authorized charges.

What about earlier makes use of of the gesture?

A picture of Martin Luther King happening on one knee whereas in prayer at a civil rights march in 1965 has been extensively used in recent times.

In addition to prayer, in some US sports activities members take a knee when a participant is injured.

What different protests have sports activities stars made?

• On the Mexico Olympics in 1968, Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave the black energy salute on the medal rostrum
• Basketball star Mahmoud Abdul Rauf refused to face for the US nationwide anthem in 1996 and described the US flag as an emblem of oppression
• In 2014 within the NFL, 5 St Louis Rams Gamers did a “palms up do not shoot” pose after Michael Brown was killed by a police officer in Missouri
• LeBron James and different basketball gamers wore T-shirts with the phrases “I can not breathe” written on them in 2014, echoing the final phrases of Eric Garner, who died after being restrained by cops in New York.