A school has defended allowing children to take the knee in an anti-racism protest at the start of its sports day today.
Pupils and staff at Noel-Baker Academy in Alvaston, Derby, are said to have suggested the idea after 'experiencing and witnessing racially motivated abuse online' in the community following the Euro 2020 final on July 11.
But one parent expressed concern over students feeling obligated to take part in the gesture due to 'peer pressure', while another believed they should have been notified beforehand.
Taking the knee has become a globalised symbol of fighting racism, initially gaining worldwide attention in American football with some players going down on one knee during the national anthem at the beginning of the game.
The act is now performed as part of the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis in May last year.
Pupils and staff at Noel-Baker Academy (pictured above) in Alvaston, Derby, are said to have suggested the idea after 'experiencing and witnessing racially motivated abuse online' in the community following the Euro 2020 final on July 11
A Noel-Baker Academy spokesman said: 'Last week, following the Euro football final, a number of our children and staff experienced and witnessed racially motivated abuse online, in the community and targeted at sports players.
'Following this, the school council requested that we do something to reinforce our stance against racism and make it clear that as a school community we are proudly anti-racist.
'At the staff and students' suggestion we have run a series of morning assemblies every day since, which have explored a range of issues around racism.
'These culminated today in sports day, with students and staff being offered the opportunity to either link arms, put their hands on their heart, take the knee or simply take a minute's silence to reflect on the beautiful diversity of our world and stand united against racism.
'The choice of action or gesture was entirely free for students and staff alike to choose and was simply about standing united as one community
