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 Belgian Grand Prix to mirror similar protests in A♊merica in response to the shooting of Jacoဣb Blake.
NBA, MLB and MLS - the top levels of basketball, baseball and football -🌼 have all postponed games as part 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 out of a WTA semi-final tennis match on Thursday i🦄n 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 hosti🧸ng, commentators for example,” Hamilton said durin𝄹g the F1 press conference on Thursday in Belgium.
“So many people are standing with the player♍s and really pushing forꦗ change. It’s a shame that that’s what needed over there to get a reaction.
“But that 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 Unite♎d States.
“I haven’t spoken to anybody about it but I am really proud of so many out there and I do stand unif♏𓄧ied 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 talks𒉰 with championship bosses to discuss other ways of pushing the anti-racism message🐼.
“I💙’ll still try and sp🔯eak 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 nꦚeed to be supporting one another.”
Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for wuqian0821.com around the world. Often reporting on the action from the ground, Le𒁏wis tells the stories of the people who matter in the sport.
