‘Would like to see some new initiative to spark anti-racism movement’, says Jason Holder

West Indies cricket team is a vocal supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Jason Holder | GettyWest Indies all-rounder Jason Holder reckons anti-racism movement in cricket needs more than just players taking a knee before matches in order to have an impact.

See Also: ‘Would bruise my knee until I go into my grave’, Michael Holding on combating racism

Racism has become a topic of global debate ever since the killing of George Floyd – a 46-year-old African-American – in Minneapolis last year after Derek Chauvin, a white policeman, knelt on his neck for several minutes.

Floyd’s death sparked protests across the United States while demonstrations were held in various countries in support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

Holder and several Caribbean cricketers had openly supported the BLM movement during the England-West Indies Test series in UK last year.

“I had a few discussions about it and I feel as though some people feel it’s now a watered-down action taken before the games. I would like to see some new initiative to spark the movement again,” Holder was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.com.

“I don’t want people to just think we’re taking the knee because Black Lives Matter, that’s the tradition and that’s the norm. It has to have some substance, it has to have some meaning behind it.”

“I would like to see some more emphasis, some more thought process going into actually re-sparking or re-engaging the movement so it can actually hold some substance,” he added.

According to Holder, athletes can do more for the anti-racism movement and wants it to be achieved through greater awareness.

As they have done in all of the series post Floyd’s death, West Indies are certain to take the knee at the start of each of the upcoming two Tests against South Africa.

The former West Indies captain also hinted that the team could do more this year to amplify the message.

“Maybe, that’s something we can do as a group. Maybe, a video collage and a video message, just to reiterate what the movement stands for and what it’s all about,” Holder said.

(With PTI inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 10 Jun, 2021

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