Lewis Hamilton attends Black Lives Matter protest

Hamilton attended the protest after announcing new diversity commission

Published by
Jake Benoiton

Lewis Hamilton recently attended a Black Lives Matter protest and believes change is possible.

The reigning world champion says "extremely positive that change will come" after attending a protest in London on Sunday, just hours after he announced he is setting up a new commission to help tackle inequality in motorsport.

Hamilton is the only black driver in Formula 1 and has been vocal about his support of the global protests around the Black Lives Matter campaign.

Afterwards Hamilton posted a message on his socials to urge people to continue the drive for change.

He wrote: "Went down to Hyde Park today for the peaceful protest and I was so proud to see in person so many people of all races and backgrounds supporting this movement. It was really moving. I'm feeling extremely positive that change will come, but we cannot stop now. #blacklivesmatter"

Hamilton's appearance at the march coincided with the launch of the Hamilton Commission,which is aiming to make motorsport “as diverse as the complex and multicultural world we live in.”

“I've been fighting the stigma of racism throughout my racing career — from kids throwing things at me while karting, to being taunted by fans in black face at a 2007 Grand Prix, one of my first Formula One races,” said Hamilton, in an OpEd in British newspaper The Sunday Times.

“I'm used to being one of very few people of colour on my teams and, more than that, I'm used to the idea that no one will speak up for me when I face racism, because no one personally feels or understands my experience,” he added.

“The time for platitudes and token gestures is over," he concluded. "I hope that The Hamilton Commission enables real, tangible and measurable change. When I look back in 20 years, I want to see the sport that gave a shy, working-class black kid from Stevenage so much opportunity, become as diverse as the complex and multicultural world we live in.”

Published by
Jake Benoiton