‘Taking the knee’ seems to be from Game of Thrones, says UK foreign minister

British international minister Dominic Raab mentioned on Thursday that “taking the knee” appears to have come from the fantasy TV drama collection “Game of Thrones” and felt like an emblem of subjugation and subordination.

The dying in Minneapolis of a black man, George Floyd, after a white police officer knelt on his neck for practically 9 minutes has sparked protests all over the world, with many demonstrators kneeling in streets and squares to protest towards racism.

The place was first taken by National Football League participant Colin Kaepernick through the enjoying of the U.S. nationwide anthem to name consideration to racial injustice, and has been adopted by many sports activities gamers since.

In England, Premier League soccer gamers together with champions Manchester City took a knee earlier than kickoff in help of the “Black Lives Matter” motion when the season restarted on Wednesday.

Raab, requested if he would undertake the place throughout a TalkRadio interview on Thursday, mentioned he understood the sense of frustration and restlessness driving the Black Lives Matter motion.

He added: “I’ve got to say on this ‘taking the knee’ thing, which I don’t know, maybe it’s got a broader history but it seems to be taken from the Game of Thrones.

“It feels to me like a symbol of subjugation and subordination rather than one of liberation and emancipation. But I understand people feel differently about it so it’s a matter of personal choice.”

Asked once more if he would take a knee to protest, he mentioned: “I take the knee for two people, the queen and the missus when I asked her to marry me.”

In “Game of Thrones”, the phrase “bending the knee” is used when somebody pledges fealty to a monarch or lord.

Raab later tried to make clear his remarks, saying he had “full respect” for the Black Lives Matter motion.

“If people wish to take a knee, that’s their choice and I respect it. We all need to come together to tackle any discrimination and social injustice,” he mentioned on Twitter.

A clip of Raab’s interview attracted 1.5 million views on Twitter inside hours of it being posted and opposition lawmakers had been extremely crucial of his phrases.

“This is not just insulting to the Black Lives Matter movement, it is deeply embarrassing for Dominic Raab,” David Lammy, the justice spokesman for the Labour Party and a longtime black rights campaigner, mentioned on Twitter.

“He is supposed to be the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom.”