TYRONE MINGS

Through the pens and pencils of children, England is fighting back against racism.

The prime minister will host a round table with representatives of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Snapchat.

Taking the knee has spread across the world as a statement against racism.

(AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool) (Frank Augstein)BURTON-ON-TRENT, England — (AP) — Taking a knee has now pitted a British government official against the England team in their campaign against racial injustice. Home Secretary Priti Patel has directly opposed players taking part in the anti-racism gesture before games at the European Championship. Mings hopes education convinces people like Patel why the players are kneeling. “The home secretary is one of many, many people that oppose us taking the knee or refuse to defend it,” Mings said Tuesday at England's St. George's Park training headquarters. “We’ve spoken about trying to educate or trying to inform the minority who refuse to acknowledge why we’re taking the knee and want to boo it,” Mings said.

England defender Tyrone Mings has responded to criticism from British Home Secretary Priti Patel for taking a knee before games at the European Championship.

Italy Turkey Euro 2020 Soccer Italy's Leonardo Bonucci opens his arms during the Euro 2020, soccer championship group A match between Italy and Turkey, at the Rome Olympic stadium, Friday, June 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, Pool) (Alessandra Tarantino)The Latest on soccer’s European Championship:___Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci has indicated that his team is not planning on taking a knee to protest racism before its European Championship match against Switzerland on Wednesday. ___England defender Tyrone Mings has responded to criticism from British Home Secretary Priti Patel for taking a knee before games at the European Championship. The North Macedonian soccer federation asked for action to be taken against Arnautović for the incident in Austria’s 3-1 victory on Sunday. ___Christian Eriksen has sent his first public message from the hospital thanking supporters for their “sweet and amazing” well-wishes after his collapse at the European Championship.

England Romania Soccer England's and Romania's players take a knee before the international friendly soccer match between England and Romania in Middlesbrough, England, Sunday, June 6, 2021. When players took a knee before both Euro 2020 warm-up games, the response from sections of England fans was booing. The disregard of the reasons for performing the anti-racism gesture has created a disconnect with many soccer fans viewing it as a political act. “If you are booing an anti-racist gesture in England then you do stand accused of being racist,” said Piara Powar, executive director of the anti-discrimination group Fare network. “Our stance is that everyone, players, fans, teams, clubs, federations, governing bodies and governments, must do more,” Scotland captain Andy Robertson said.

England players have been pleading with fans to stop booing when they take a knee before games.

Arteta had billed the coming week, starting with the visit of Chelsea, as a “crucial” period that would determine which direction Arsenal was heading this season. A first league victory in nearly two months was vital, therefore, to boost Arsenal players' fragile confidence — even if it only lifted them into 14th place. “It's something to build on.”It took 90 minutes for the scrutiny that was hovering over Arteta to drift toward his Chelsea counterpart, Frank Lampard. That's three losses in the last four league games for Chelsea, which has dropped to seventh place and whose identity — and best lineup — is increasingly hard to decipher. The result kept Leicester above United in the standings after they started the day in second and third place.

Liverpool's Diogo Jota, centre, is congratulated by teammate Fabinho after scoring his team's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Monday, Sept. 28, 2020. Liverpool is making an ominous start to its title defense in the English Premier League. The champion's high-risk, high-reward strategy paid off in its come-from-behind 3-1 win over Arsenal on Monday in an open game featuring a late clinching goal by Diogo Jota in his first league start for Liverpool. Liverpool is one of three teams to have opened with three straight wins, including over Chelsea and now Arsenal. The last time the southwest London club was in the Premier League — in the 2018-19 season — it conceded a division-high 81 goals and got relegated.