Proteas batsman Rassie van der Dussen has reacted to calls for current and former white South African cricketers to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
Van der Dussen responded to a tweet by veteran anti-apartheid journalist Max du Preez, who challenged the right-hander and players like AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock and coach Mark Boucher by asking, ‘Where do you stand?’
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‘I support BLM, I’m against murder, I’m against all murders, physical, character, and cultural murders. I support equal opportunities for all. Just because I support BLM does not mean I support violence or Marxism, so I refuse to be labeled by people. Viva Afrika,’ read the tweet from Van Der Dussen, arguably the first white professional player to publicly voice his support for the movement.
Max, ek ondersteun BLM, ek is teen alle moorde, fisiese, karakter-, en kulturele moord. Ek ondersteun gelyke geleenthede vir almal. Omdat ek BLM ondersteun beteken dit nie dat ek geweld of Marxisme ondersteun nie, ek weier dus om deur mense geëtiketteer te word. Viva Afrika! ?? https://t.co/mEhKFBjKMR
— Rassie van der Dussen (@Rassie72) July 16, 2020
The issue of supporting #BLM has become a sensitive topic in recent days after a group of 36 former Proteas players and current senior coaches signed a statement condemning comments made by Pat Symcox and Boeta Dippenaar, in response to Lungi Ngidi’s request to his Proteas teammates to take a stand against racism.
Former batsman Hashim Amla also on Wednesday praised Ngidi for standing up for what he believes is a much-needed debate regarding racism in South African cricket.
