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Hardik Pandya Shows Solidarity with ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement

In the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, Hardik Pandya became the first player in T20 franchise league’s history to take a knee, showing support for the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement. The all-rounder after reaching his half-century in the 19th over of his side’s innings, celebrated by taking a knee with his right arm raised to show support for the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement and solidarity against racism.

The fight against racism and the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement has garnered massive support after the death of African-American man George Floyd in May 2020. Floyd died while being confronted by the police officers, when one of them pressed his knee on the victim’s neck. Floyd reportedly died due to suffocation from pressure on his neck. Ever since then, many sports stars have shown their support for the fight against racism.

While Pandya was being lauded for showing support to the global anti-racist movement, he has been widely called out on social media for not taking a stand against the caste atrocities, discrimination against minorities and violence against women.