Lewis Hamilton: 'Black Lives Matter - Don't You Forget It'

Lewis Hamilton: ‘Black Lives Matter – Don’t You Forget It’

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(updated 28th September 2020)

3 Minutes Read

'Please don't go to any zoos or circuses' (Photo: Instagram / Lewis Hamilton) - Media Credit:
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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.”

View this post on Instagram

This past week has been so dark. I have failed to keep hold of my emotions. I have felt so much anger, sadness and disbelief in what my eyes have seen. I am completely overcome with rage at the sight of such blatant disregard for the lives of our people. The injustice that we are seeing our brothers and sisters face all over the world time and time again is disgusting, and MUST stop. 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 everyday and should not have to feel as though we were born guilty, don’t belong, or fear for our lives based on the colour 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. It is only when there are riots and screams for justice that the powers that be cave in and do something, but by then it is far too late and not enough has been done. It took hundreds of thousands of peoples complaints and buildings to burn before officials reacted and decided to arrest Derek Chauvin for murder, and that is sad. Unfortunately, America is not the only place where racism lives 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 colour of your skin. Black Lives Matter. #blackouttuesday ??

A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton) on

‘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.”

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