This archive report was first published on 13 July 2021.
On Tuesday, July 13, 2021, hundreds of people gathered at a mural of England footballer Marcus Rashford in the Withington area of Manchester, UK, to show their support for the player and his teammates who were subjected to racist abuse online.
The mural, which had been defaced with racist messages, was a focal point for the community's outrage and solidarity. England players Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka were targeted with racist abuse on social media after the team's loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
Among those who gathered at the mural was Kate Caine, a 42-year-old Mancunian who expressed her disgust at the racist comments directed at Rashford and his teammates. 'I'm a Mancunian born and bred, and I'm proud to be a Mancunian. I'm so proud of what Marcus Rashford has done for this country,' she said.
Ohmar, a 17-year-old, also attended the gathering, where he expressed his support for Rashford and his teammates. 'A player like him doesn't deserve anything like this. No player does, because he's done a lot to support his country during the pandemic, giving meals to the unfortunate kids,' he said.
England footballer Marcus Rashford responded to the racist abuse with an emotional statement, saying he would 'never apologise for who I am.' He also expressed his gratitude for the support he received from the community, saying he was 'on the verge of tears' when he saw the mural covered in messages of support.
Home Secretary Priti Patel was accused of hypocrisy by England player Tyrone Mings, who said she had 'stoked the fire' by defending fans who booed players taking the knee. Patel had previously said taking the knee was 'gesture politics,' and Johnson had also equivocated on the issue.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman insisted that the prime minister had always wanted fans to back the team, but the government's handling of the issue has been widely criticized. The English Football Association and Prince William also condemned the racist abuse.
