KNEELING IS NOT POLITICAL

DEAR Editor – Either Francis Lankester hasn’t read what Gareth Southgate and his team have said about taking the knee, or he has and ignored it to pursue his outdated right-wing propaganda.

Read Francis Lankester's letter here

He is simply wrong in suggesting that the knee gesture supports the BLM movement.

It is a protest against the vile abuse that some of our players have suffered both from opposition fans and on social media, as has been made clear.

It is certainly not a political gesture against capitalism and one supporting Marxism.

Maybe he should look at the origin of the gesture, when Colin Kaepernick, the NFL player did it as a protest against American police brutality towards black people, which continues today. That was not a pro-Marxism act.

The fact that it was condemned by a Donald Trump is perhaps an indication of where Mr Lankester stands on the issue.

Fortunately, the vast majority of people in this country, take a more rational view and recognise the need for change.

Peter Clarke

Littleworth