“We can always do more”- Lewis Hamilton thinks that Formula 1 and other sports have to do more for human rights situation.
Lewis Hamilton in recent years has been on the frontline to speak against the human rights issues in the world, especially related to racism, and this year. While the Black Lives Matter movement erupted, Hamilton made sure his voice is heard.
But he got minimal support from Formula 1 and was even investigated for wearing a t-shirt that stood in solidarity with Breonna Taylor, who was killed in March last year by Louisville police officers.
While F1 has not seen it as an issue to race in countries involved in human rights violations, Bahrain being one, held two races in 2020. In the run-up to the Grand Prix, Hamilton had received several letters denouncing the country’s human rights situation.
As per the Motorsport, among them was the message of an 11-year-old whose father – a security officer – was sentenced to death in 2014 for being held responsible for a police officer’s death in a bomb attack during the 2011 mass protests.
According to Amnesty International, his confession was obtained under torture. “The saddest thing for me is that there is a young man on death row, and his fate is unclear. When his son wrote me this letter, it really hit me deeply,” reveals the 35-year-old.
The world champion says: “Ultimately, it’s not necessarily my responsibility to express myself about places I don’t know everything about, but I think we always have to work together towards changes and improvements. (…) All lives are important, so I think there is definitely work to be done in the background. ”
Definitely will not go unnoticed.
Hamilton then claimed that upon reading the letter, he decided to talk to the Bahrainian crown, but his COVID-19 situation kept him bedridden and promised taking it up again.
“I was bedridden for most of the week and of course couldn’t see anyone. But I’m definitely not going to go unnoticed and try to have conversations and see how we can make positive use of our presence as a sport when we go to these great places,” assured Hamilton.
The Brit knows, “Of course the human rights issue is a persistent and massive problem in some of the places we go. I think this year has shown how important it is not just for us as a sport, but for all sports around the world, World is to use the platforms they have to push for change. “
