Dominic Raab faces backlash as he criticises BLM ‘taking knee’ protest

Dominic Raab is facing a backlash after criticising the BLM ‘taking the knee’ protest – saying it is like something out of Game of Thrones. 

The Foreign Secretary said the gesture, which has been at demonstrations around the world since the death of George Floyd, ‘feels to me like a symbol of subjugation and subordination rather than one of liberation and emancipation’.

He accepted other people ‘feel differently’ and insisted he understood the ‘frustration’ felt by oppressed communities, but added: ‘I take the knee for two people, the Queen and the Mrs when I asked her to marry me.’

The comments, in an interview with TalkRadio this morning, drew immediate anger, with MPs including Labour’s Diane Abbott condemning Mr Raab for not knowing the origins of the protest. 

The demand is frequently made by would-be rulers of their rivals in the hit HBO TV series, but the demonstrators refer to the actions of US sports stars who declined to stand during the national anthem. 

Mr Raab tried to cool the situation later by tweeting that he had ‘full respect’ for the BLM movement and people were entitled to ‘choose’ whether to take the knee.   

Asked about ‘taking the knee’ during his interview this morning, the Foreign Secretary said: ‘I understand this sense of frustration and restlessness which is driving the Black Lives Matter movement. 

‘I’ve got to say on this taking the knee thing – I don’t know maybe its got a broader history but it seems to me to be taken from the Game of Thrones – 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.’ 

Pressed on whether he personally would take the knee, Mr Raab replied: ‘I take the knee for two people, the Queen and the Mrs when I asked her to marry me.’ 

The ‘taking the knee’ protest was started in 2016 by American football player Colin Kaepernick.

He famously knelt for the US national anthem before playing for the San Francisco 49ers, to demonstrate against police brutality. 

Kaepernick said at the time: ‘I am not going to get up to show pride in a country that oppresses black people and people of colour.

‘To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.’ 

The action was hugely controversial in the US, with critics saying it disrespected soldiers and the flag. It was banned by the NFL amid anger from Donald Trump, and many believe it destroyed Kaepernick’s career.

It has been widely adopted around the world following George Floyd’s death, and was used by Premier League footballers before matches last night. 

Downing Street said Mr Raab was giving a ‘personal opinion’ when he said taking a knee was a symbol of subjugation. 

The PM’s official spokesman said: ‘The Foreign Secretary was very clear he was expressing a personal opinion. 

‘Secondly, he has tweeted about it.’ 

Asked whether anyone in No 10 had spoken to him about sending a tweet clarifying his remarks, the spokesman said: ‘I am certainly not aware of the Prime Minister speaking with the Foreign Secretary this morning.’ 

Asked whether the PM would take the knee, the spokesman said: ‘It is not something that has happened. But you have got his words on what he wants to focus on in response to the protests.’ 

No10 said the government’s new race commission showed it has a ‘positive agenda for change’. 

Labour MP Diane Abbott tweeted: ‘Taking the knee’ began in 2016 with American athletes refusing to stand for US national anthem. They were protesting police brutality and racism. But @DominicRaab thinks it comes from Game of Thrones!!!’ 

SNP MP Stephen Flynn said: ‘He says he ”understands” but then goes on to say that he thinks #TakeTheKnee comes from Game of Thrones. How can the actual Foreign Secretary not know about Colin Kaepernick?’