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Lewis Hamilton has taken to Instagram to advocate for Black Lives Matter amid ongoing protests against police brutality against black people.
The Formula One champion – and outspoken advocate for animals – shared his message with 16.5 million followers earlier today.
Posting images of the now-famous street mural in Washington, which says ‘Black Lives Matter’, Hamilton said: “And don’t you forget it. #blacklivesmatter #endracism.”
‘So dark’
This is not the only post Hamilton has made about race in recent days. Last week, he shared a longer caption on the platform in which he said he was ‘completely overcome with rage at the sight of such blatant disregard for the lives of our people’. He described the week following the May 25 death of George Floyd – after police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes – as ‘so dark’.
He wrote: “So many people seem surprised, but to us, unfortunately, it is not surprising. Those of us who are black, brown, or in between, see it every day and should not have to feel as though we were born guilty, don’t belong, or fear for our lives based on the color of our skin.
“Will Smith said it best, racism is not getting worse, it’s being filmed. Only now that the world is so well equipped with cameras has this issue been able to come to light in such a big way.”
‘Far too late’
Hamilton continued that the ‘powers that be’ only took action and arrested Chauvin – who has since been charged with second-degree murder – after hundred of thousands of people complained and protested.
“Unfortunately, America is not the only place where racism lives,” Hamilton wrote, “and we continue to fail as humans when we cannot stand up for what is right. Please do not sit in silence, no matter the color of your skin. Black Lives Matter.”
