Hamilton blasts F1's silence 'in the midst of injustice'

Lewis Hamilton

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Hamilton blasts F1's silence 'in the midst of injustice'

"The way minorities are treated has to change"

Sam Hall

Sunday 31 May 2020 23:13 Updated: 00:34

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Lewis Hamilton has criticised the silence of Formula 1 and the 'white dominated' motorsport industry as a whole in the wake of the death of US citizen George Floyd, who died after being arrested in the United States.

Floyd, a man of colour, died after a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck on May 25. Officer Derek Chauvin, has since been arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Various sports stars have spoken out about the issue of racism and protests have taken place around the world. Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton added his voice to the cause.

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"I see those of you who are staying silent, some of you the biggest of stars yet you stay silent in the midst of injustice," wrote Hamilton on Instagram. "Not a sign from anybody in my industry which of course [sic] is a white dominated sport. I'm one of the only people of colour there yet I stand alone. I would have thought by now you would see why this happens and say something about it but you can't stand alongside us. Just know I know who you are and I see you..."

Hamilton has previously spoken out on the issue of racism in motorsport and remains the only driver of colour in the sport.

In a separate post, Hamilton added: "I do not stand with those looting and burning buildings but those who are protesting peacefully. There can be no peace until our so called leaders make change. This is not just America, this is the UK, this is Spain, this is Italy and all over. The way minorities are treated has to change, how you educate those in your country of equality, racism, classism and that we are all born the same! We are not born with racism and hate in our hearts, it is taught by those we look up to."

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