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South African gamers raised their fists to indicate their help for Black Lives Matter motion.© AFP
South African gamers raised their fists Saturday in an anti-racism gesture at first of their two-Test collection in opposition to Sri Lanka at SuperSport Park in Centurion, in help of the Black Lives Matter motion. The group issued a press release that stated the gamers had on a number of events declared their help for the marketing campaign in opposition to racial injustice and “wanted to own our journey”. The gamers had been criticised for not “taking a knee” forward of a latest collection in opposition to England as had been performed by different sporting groups following the dying of George Floyd within the United States earlier within the yr.
The assertion stated the choice to indicate a raised fist was reached “through a process of deep democracy” to be acceptable in a South African context.
“The raised fist is a powerful gesture in our own history, as expressed in the iconic images of Nelson and Winnie Mandela on Mandela’s release from prison in 1990. In this context it was a powerful gesture of triumph, an acknowledgment of the struggle against apartheid, and a commitment to continuing to fight for equality, justice and freedom, while also honouring the religious and cultural responsibilities of every member of our team.”
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The assertion famous that the raised fist had an extended historical past inside the Civil Rights motion, which included the gesture by American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos throughout a medal ceremony on the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games.
“We recognise the historical and political connotations of the raised fist as a gesture of ongoing solidarity in the fight for racial justice and anti-racism work. So, we stand together and raise our fists as a gesture of solidarity and commitment to continuing the work of pursuing racial justice in our lifetimes.”
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