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NFL players lock arms in anthem protest as Donald Trump urges fans to boycott games

NO STANDING: The NFL protest against Trump continues to escalate as two more teams refuse to stand for national anthem.

Staff writers, AP and AFP
6 min read
September 25, 2017 - 11:39AM
News Corp Australia Network
President Trump has continued his beef with NFL players kneeling during the national anthem. Picture: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
President Trump has continued his beef with NFL players kneeling during the national anthem. Picture: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

MORE NFL players have shown solidarity against Donald Trump by locking arms, kneeling or sitting down during the national anthem. The latest teams to join the protest are the Oakland Raiders and the Washington Redskins. The Raiders is the only NFL team comprised entirely of African-American players. At this stage, more than 200 players have chosen to protest - that means about one in eight did not stand for the anthem over the weekend.

Some members of the Oakland Raiders sit during the playing of the National Anthem before an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins. Picture: AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Some members of the Oakland Raiders sit during the playing of the National Anthem before an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins. Picture: AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Last week, only six NFL players protested, continuing the movement started last year by former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

But President Donald Trump’s comments and tweets saying protesting players should be fired sparked a massive show of defiance. Three teams stayed off the field for the anthems entirely. Other teams locked arms, with some players standing, some kneeling and some sitting. Singer Meghan Linsey, runner-up on The Voice, joined the fray, when she too took a knee after singing the national anthem before the Seattle Seahawks game at the Tennessee Titans. So did the guitarist accompanying her.

Trump said his criticism of NFL players who kneel during the National Anthem in protest of racial injustice in the United States had “nothing to do with race”.

“We have great people representing our country, especially our soldiers, our first responders, and they should be treated with respect,” Trump said when asked about his comments by a group of reporters. “And when you get on your knee and you don’t respect the America flag or the anthem, that’s not being treated with respect.”

When a reporter asked the President if he is “inflaming racial tensions”, he replied: “This has nothing to do with race. I never said anything about race. This has nothing to do with race or anything else. This has to do with respect for our country and respect for our flag.

However, NFL stars have hit back following President Donald Trump’s criticism of players.

Around 200 players could be seen kneeling in the 14 games that took place Sunday, easily the largest such demonstration since former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began protesting in 2016.

The first mass demonstration took place at the NFL’s London game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens at Wembley Stadium, where a large number of players from both teams knelt.

Denver Broncos players kneel during the national anthem.
Denver Broncos players kneel during the national anthem.

In Nashville, neither the Seattle Seahawks nor the Tennessee Titans took to the field to observe the national anthem.

“We will not stand for the injustice that has plagued people of this colour in this country,” Seattle players said in a statement just prior to kick-off.

The mass protests come after Trump urged fans to boycott NFL games to pressure the league to fire or suspend players who show disrespect for “flag and country”.

The Pittsburgh Steelers remained in the locker room as the national anthem played before their game with the Chicago Bears. Coach Mike Tomlin stood by himself on the sideline.

Tomlin had said before the game that Pittsburgh’s players would remain in the locker room and that “we’re not going to let divisive times or divisive individuals affect our agenda.”

Tomlin added that the Steelers made this choice “not to be disrespectful to the anthem but to remove ourselves from this circumstance. People shouldn’t have to choose.”

Members of the New England Patriots kneel during the national anthem.
Members of the New England Patriots kneel during the national anthem.

Even New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who’s been a strong supporter of the president, expressed “deep disappointment” with Mr Trump.

“Our players are intelligent, thoughtful, and care deeply about our community and I support their right to peacefully affect social change and raise awareness in a manner that they feel is most impactful,” he said.

At least 20 Patriots players were spotted kneeling, as Tom Brady linked arms with his teammates. Reports said the protests were greeted with scattered boos as some fans chanted “Stand up!” Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who donated to Trump’s campaign, said he was “deeply disappointed” by his friend’s remarks.

The protests began as the NFL made their now annual pilgrimage to London.

About two dozen players, including Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs and Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette, took to a knee during the playing of the national anthem before the start of the game at Wembley Stadium.

No players were kneeling during the playing of the British national anthem, God Save the Queen.

Jaguars players stood arm-in-arm with team owner Shahid Khan, who donated $1.25 million to Mr Trump’s inauguration fund.

Shortly after kick-off, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti released a statement: “We recognise our players’ influence. We respect their demonstration and support them 100 per cent. All voices need to be heard. That’s democracy in its highest form.”

In Chicago, the Pittsburgh Steelers chose to remain in their locker room during the anthem ahead of their clash with the Bears.

Buffalo Bills star Lesean McCoy, who stretched on the turf during the anthem, said: “I can’t stand and support something where the leader of our country is acting like a jerk.”

In Detroit, meanwhile, the singer of the national anthem Rico LaVelle dramatically dropped to his knee at the end of his rendition. At least eight Detroit Lions players were seen kneeling during the anthem while others linked arms.

Trump responded to the protests on Twitter. “Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable,” he wrote.

Sunday’s protests were the latest twist in a bitter war of words between Trump and US professional sports.

On Saturday, he had also drawn a furious backlash from NBA stars after stating on Twitter that the champion Golden State Warriors and star Stephen Curry would not be invited to attend a White House reception.

Jacksonville Jaguars players kneel down during the national anthem.
Jacksonville Jaguars players kneel down during the national anthem.

Curry had indicated he would not attend the White House reception if invited. “Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!” Trump then wrote.

ATHLETES IN SOLIDARITY

Trump’s outburst also drew a stinging response from across the NBA, with Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James describing the US leader as a “bum”. The trenchant response from NFL and NBA players to Trump’s comments had shown signs of spreading to other leagues, with a baseball player kneeling during the anthem on Saturday.

NBA star LeBron James calls Trump a “bum” following his comments about players in the NFL. Picture: Getty Images
NBA star LeBron James calls Trump a “bum” following his comments about players in the NFL. Picture: Getty Images

In game one of the WNBA Finals on Sunday, members of the Los Angeles Sparks remained in their dressing room during the anthem. Their opponents, the Minnesota Lynx, stood to attention with arms locked.

Track and field star Allyson Felix, a six-time Olympic gold medallist, also spoke out in support of the protests.

“Enough is enough. We have the power to create change,” she said. Kaepernick’s protest was aimed at drawing more attention to treatment of minorities in America following a spate of deadly police shootings of black men.

Critics counter that the protests are disrespectful of the country and its military.

However, a group of US veterans wrote an open letter of support to Kaepernick and other activist athletes.

“The right for those athletes, and all Americans, to protest is one we all pledged to defend with our lives if necessary,” the letter read.

Baltimore Ravens players show their displeasure.
Baltimore Ravens players show their displeasure.

TRUMP CALLS FOR BOYCOTT

President Trump took to Twitter to savage the NFL.

‘FREE SPEECH ON OWN TIME’

US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin defended Mr Trump’s attacks on NFL players, saying members of the league “can do free speech on their own time”.

“I think what the president is saying is that the owners should have a rule that players should have to stand in respect for the national anthem,” Mr Mnuchin told This Week.

“This isn’t about Democrats, it’s not about Republicans, it’s not about race, it’s not about free speech. They can do free speech on their own time. That this is about respect for the military and first responders in the country.”

Some sports fans are standing with the players, while others are vowing to never watch NFL again.

‘SONS OF BITCHES’

The fight began on Saturday (EST) at a Republican rally in Alabama when Mr Trump attacked activist NFL players — mostly African-Americans — as “sons of bitches” for kneeling or sitting during renditions of The Star-Spangled Banner.

On the same day, basketball star Stephen Curry, the top player for California’s Golden State Warriors, said he would not attend a traditional White House reception honouring the winning basketball team.

Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry
LeBron James
LeBron James

Several hours later, President Trump hit back with an early-morning Twitter salvo.

“Going to the White House is considered a great honour for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!” he wrote.

His petty outburst drew a stinging response from across the NBA, with Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James among the first to weigh in.

“U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain’t going!” James wrote on Twitter.

“So therefore ain’t no invite. Going to White House was a great honour until you showed up.”

The protests began last year when quarterback Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers refused to stand for the anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality.

Several more players have since joined in, nearly all of them black. Kaepernick, who was unable to land a job with a team this season, has attracted support from his peers but also some backlash.

Colin Kaepernick sets the precedent.
Colin Kaepernick sets the precedent.

The 29-year-old said he started his protests because he wanted to spark a nationwide debate on racial injustice and police brutality.

Bruce Maxwell of the Oakland Athletics became the first MLB player to kneel during the US anthem just hours after Donald Trump’s “fire them” comments.

Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell makes his stand.
Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell makes his stand.

Originally published as NFL players lock arms in anthem protest as Donald Trump urges fans to boycott games

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/american-sports/donald-trump-urges-fans-to-boycott-nfl-games-says-attendance-down-after-calling-for-players-to-be-fired/news-story/ad7478927f51e0a354d56b4f5a2035f9