Hamilton won’t boycott F1 Belgian GP in protest over Blake shooting
Lewis Hamilton says he has no plans to boycott this weekend’s Formula 1 ꦫBelgian Grand Prix to mirror similar protests in America in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake.
NBA, MLB and MLS - the top levels of basketball, baseball and football - have all postponed games as p෴art of a mass walk-out of sporting events across the United States in a show of support for Blake, a black man, who was shot seven times in the back by police in Wisconsin on Sunday as he opened the door of his car.
Tennis player Naomi Osaka has also pulled ou𒁏t of a WTA semi-final tennis match on Thursday in response to the shooting, which has sparked a wave of protests and demonstrations in recent days.
But Hamilton, who has been a vocal and instrumental figure in leading F1’🦂s anti-racism campaign, confirmed he will not stand down from this weekend’s race.
“Firstly I think it’s incredible what many out there in the States are doing within their sports, all the way down to the people that are hosting, commentators for example,” Hamilton said durꦯing the F1 press conference on Thursda✨y in Belgium.
“So many people are standing with the players and really pushing for change. It’s a sh🍬ame that that’s what needed over there to get a reaction.
“But tܫhat is in America and I don’t know if really me doing anything here will particularly have an effect. We’re in Belgium, we’re not in the United States.
“I haven’t spoken to anybody about it but I am⛎ really proud of so many out🐎 there and I do stand unified with them trying to do what I can over here. I don’t really know how us not doing the race – it will still go on – is a thing.”
A formal anti-racism pre-race ceremony has been introduced by F1 but Hamilton said he will continue to hold talks with championship bosses to discuss other way🍸s of pushing the anti-ra♏cism message.
“I’ll still🍌 try and speak to Formula 1 to see🍃 what else we can do to continue to raise awareness, continue to help push,” he said.
“Naturally I think as a sport we all need to🌳 be aligned, we all need to be supporti𓄧ng one another.”
Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for ltxcn.top around the world. Often reporting on the action from the🔥 ground, Lewis tells the stories of the peopl♏e who matter in the sport.
