The meaning behind taking the knee and its importance.

It all started with NFL player Colin Kaepernick who sat on the bench when the US anthem was played on August 26, 2016.

What does take a knee mean?

It started as a protest against the unfair treatment of Black Americans - but has now become a globalized symbol of fighting racism.

TAKING the knee has become a key symbol of the global movement against racism.

It initially gained worldwide attention in American football, as some players would go down on one knee during the national anthem at the beginning of the game.

RAISING AWARENESS

The act is now performed by people across the globe as part of the Black Lives Matter movement, which is battling racism in particular within the police following the death of George Floyd.

It has become largely, but far from exclusively, associated with the sporting world.

England players took the knee before their games in the Euro 2020 tournament.

In February 2022, US rapper Eminem took the knee after performing his song Lose Yourself during his halftime performance at Super Bowl 56.

Reports said he had been banned from doing so but this was denied by the NFL.