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Protea Training on Centurion (Rooster)
the Proteas will raise his fists in support of Black Lives Matter (BLM) before the first test against Sri Lanka in Centurion on Saturday.
The decision was confirmed in a statement from the players on the morning of Boxing Day.
Head coach Mark Boucher had said earlier this week that his team, following requests from the Cricket South Africa interim board, would make a gesture to show their unity against racial profiling.
The Proteas made waves ahead of their T20 series against England earlier this month when they chose not to kneel for BLM in Newlands, but have now chosen to take a more visible position.
Full Proteas Declaration:
“We, as the Proteas team, have repeatedly stated our unmistakable support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) campaign.
We have openly discussed the issue on numerous occasions with the media and with each other and we are committed to continuing to do this work together.
We continue to own our journey and our previously stated stance on this issue (Player Statement and Press Release Nov 25). We recognize that our actions will likely result in criticism from some community, one way or another, but we work to prioritize the team, to be honest about our own learning journey, and to continue to make decisions that we can make in good conscience as a team first and foremost. , and as individuals.
To this end, we have made the decision, through a process of deep democracy, to raise our fists at the beginning of the Test Against Sri Lanka series as a gesture to express our ongoing commitments.
We recognize that gestures have histories and contexts, that they carry meaning beyond themselves (both positive and negative), and that these gestures can be open to misinterpretation. Symbols also serve to communicate shared values and meanings.
We think it’s important to note that while American football quarterback Colin Kaepernick is now known for initiating the kneeling gesture, he began his protest by sitting down during the singing of the United States of America (USA) anthem. . His decision to get on his knees was a response to his context and to his desire to possess a gesture that had deep meaning in the political environment of America.
Along the same lines as Kaepernick, we would like to use our sports platform to raise awareness on an issue that matters deeply at this historic moment. We want to do it in a way that unites us around a gesture that we possess, that speaks and resonates in our South African context, and that is connected to our own history of fighting for human rights.
The raised fist is a powerful gesture in our own history, as expressed in the iconic images of Nelson and Winnie Mandela of Mandela’s release from prison in 1990. In this context, it was a powerful gesture of triumph, an acknowledgment of the fight against apartheid, and a commitment to continue fighting for equality, justice and freedom, while respecting the religious and cultural responsibilities of each member of our team.
The raised fist has a long history within the civil rights movement as well. It has also been used iconically in sports. For example, American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists during a medal ceremony at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, and later called it a “human rights salute.” More recently it has been used within the BLM movement.
We recognize the historical and political connotations of the raised fist as a gesture of permanent solidarity in the fight for racial justice and work against racism. So, we come together and raise our fists as a gesture of solidarity and commitment to continue the work of seeking racial justice in our lives. “
– Compiled by Sport24 staff
