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Hamilton criticizes F1’s silence over George Floyd: ‘I stand alone’
Lewis Hamilton has criticized Formula 1 for its silence as an industry while a number of sports organizations and athletes are shining the spotlight on the Black Lives Matter movement.
The death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis has led to both peaceful and violent protests in the United States and worldwide. A number of sports stars have been speaking out on social media, while Sunday’s Bundesliga soccer games in Germany saw Borussia Moenchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram take a knee and a number of Borussia Dortmund players show messages reading ‘Justice for George Floyd’ after scoring.
Thuram’s pose was shared by his club’s official Twitter account, while NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement saying “there remains an urgent need for action.” However, with no official comment from F1 itself or another driver at the time, Hamilton called out his sport for not doing more about racial injustice.
"I see those of you who are staying silent, some of you the biggest stars yet you stay silent in the midst of injustice,” Hamilton wrote on Instagram. “Not a sign from anybody in my industry which of course is a white-dominated sport.
"I'm one of the only people of color there, yet I stand alone. I would have thought by now you would see why this happens and say something about it but you can't stand alongside us. Just know I know who you are and I see you…”
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Hamilton later added a further post saying he does not support violent protesting, while also drawing attention to his own experiences of oppression in Europe.
"I do not stand with those looting and burning buildings but those who are protesting peacefully. There can be no peace until our so called leaders make change.
"This is not just America, this is the UK, this is Spain, this is Italy and all over. The way minorities are treated has to change, how you educate those in your country of equality, racism, classism and that we are all the same. We are not born with racism and hate in our hearts, it is taught by those we look up to.”
Following Hamilton’s posts, Williams driver Nicholas Latifi posted a tweet simply saying “This has to stop” and the hashtags #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd and #BlackLivesMatter.
Chris Medland
While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three further years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor. Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, his broadcast work includes television appearances on F1 TV and as a presenter and reporter on North America's live radio coverage on SiriusXM.
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