Dominic Raab has come under fire for suggesting he would not ‘take the knee’ in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, describing it as a ‘symbol of subjugation and subordination’.
The Foreign Secretary admitted he did not know the broader history of the gesture, which has been used at demonstrations around the world to express solidarity in the fight against racial inequality.
He has been ridiculed for incorrectly claiming it derived from hit TV series Game of Thrones, with critics calling his comments ‘insulting and embarrassing’.
Speaking on TalkRadio this morning, Mr Raab accepted other people ‘feel differently’ and insisted he understood the ‘frustration’ felt by oppressed communities.
But he suggested he would not follow the example of footballers who last night marked the Premier League’s return by getting down on one knee in support of the BLM movement, saying: ‘I take the knee for two people, the Queen and the Mrs when I asked her to marry me’.
The symbolic gesture was popularised in 2016 when NFL star Colin Kaepernick got down on one knee while the US national anthem played before games.
Explaining his position further the Foreign Secretary said: ‘I understand this sense of frustration and restlessness that is driving the Black Lives Matter movement.
‘I’ve got to say, on this taking a knee thing, I don’t know, maybe it’s got a broader history but it seems to be taken from The Game of Thrones, feels to me like a symbol of subjugation and subordination rather than one of liberation and emancipation.
‘But I understand people feel differently about it so it’s a matter of personal choice.’
The comments drew immediate anger, with MPs including Labour’s Diane Abbott expressing disbelief that Mr Raab did not know the origins of the protest.
She tweeted: ‘”Taking the knee” began in 2016 with American athletes refusing to stand for US national anthem. They were protesting police brutality and racism. But @DominicRaab thinks it comes from Game of Thrones!!’
David Lammy said the comments were ‘insulting’ to the Black Lives Matter movement and ‘deeply embarrassing’.
Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan commented: ‘Unbelievable. Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab thinks taking the knee is from Game of Thrones. This Government continues to shame us to the world.’
Kaepernick famously knelt for the US national anthem before playing for the San Francisco 49ers in 2016, to demonstrate against police brutality.
Kaepernick said at the time: ‘I am not going to get up to show pride in a country that oppresses black people and people of colour.
‘To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.’
Bending a knee has become more widespread in the wake of global protests against racism, sparked by the killing of an unarmed black man in the US, George Floyd.
Some politicians, including Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy Angela Rayner have taken the knee in solidarity with anti-racism protesters.
In a statement following the backlash Mr Raab tweeted: ‘To be clear: I have full respect for the Black Lives Matter movement, and the issues driving them. If people wish to take a knee, that’s their choice and I respect it. We all need to come together to tackle any discrimination and social injustice.’
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