Richard MacDonald has back-tracked on his speech to a Black Lives Matter rally at Glasgow Green when he told the gathering that ‘Rangers as an institution has to change’.
The crowd cheered that acknowledgement but the response of social media was very different.
MacDonald was part of the Everyone Anyone programme that was rushed through at the start of the season after Dave King’s club were sanctioned by UEFA for racist chanting at a Europa League qualifier against St Joseph’s.
Twice during the 2019/20 season UEFA closed sections of Ibrox due to racist chanting with MacDonald’s acknowledgment of the issue well received among the protestors at Glasgow Green.
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I was born in 1968 and right now I Can’t Breathe. I can’t breathe with emotion here today to see so much support, it’s unbelievable. Rangers as an institution has to change and I’m there to help it change.
Following the angry reaction on social media the Ibrox PR machine moved into operation, forcing MacDonald into a hasty retreat.
ChacePR is proud to project-manage Rangers Football Club’s Everyone Anyone diversity and inclusion campaign. Supporter Richard MacDonald, who is part of the initiative, has released the following statement about his attendance at a Black Lives Matter event at the weekend. pic.twitter.com/27ZCsioVMJ
— ChacePR (@ChacePR) June 9, 2020
“In response to an interjection from the crowd which referenced Rangers FC, I responded with a phrase which with hindsight, I would have reacted to differently.
— ChacePR (@ChacePR) June 9, 2020
“I should have said ‘society has to change’ and we can all do better and given recent events in America, I am sure any fair-minded individual would agree.
— ChacePR (@ChacePR) June 9, 2020
“I know some fellow supporters believed I was being critical of Rangers. Again, that was not my intention and I was actually trying to communicate my support of the club’s highly positive EA campaign.
— ChacePR (@ChacePR) June 9, 2020