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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUSA soccer star Megan Rapinoe refuses to sing national anthem before World Cup match
U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe did not join her teammates in singing the national anthem before the teams opening match against Thailand in the Womens World Cup on Tuesday.
According to multiple news reports, Rapinoe stood on silently as other members of the women's national soccer team sang The Star-Spangled Banner prior to kick-off.
The act comes several years after Rapinoe became the first white player to kneel during the national anthem after former San Francisco 49ers star Colin Kaepernick in 2016 began the protest to bring attention to police brutality and racial inequality.
Since then, the soccer player has refused to join her teammates in singing the anthem, including at another match-up her team recently played in Reims, France, according to Fox News.
When discussing her decision to protest the national anthem in an interview in May, Rapinoe called herself a walking protest to Trumps policies and said she views her decision to kneel during the anthem as a "F you" to his administration.
"I feel like it's kind of defiance in and of itself to just be who I am and wear the jersey, and represent it," Rapinoe said then. "Because I'm as talented as I am, I get to be here, you don't get to tell me if I can be here or not.
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Celerity
(43,333 posts)babylonsister
(171,057 posts)brush
(53,771 posts)with the anthem protests. She's a brave woman as the trumpers will surely come after her now.
Traildogbob
(8,724 posts)How many NASCAR drivers know the words and actually sing before the race? Protesting a treasonous, hate charged political party is a documented right of a true democracy. I admire her courage. I served this country for her right, I took an oath to defend and admire her stance.
DinahMoeHum
(21,784 posts). . .given by Dave Zirin, sports writer for The Nation magazine on his weekly podcasts.
https://soundcloud.com/edgeofsports
His "Sit Your Ass Down" award this week, IMO, should go to the Boston Bruins franchise for their unholy alliance with the misogynist site Barstool Sports:
https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/05/29/the-nfl-broomed-barstools-david-portnoy-so-should-the-bruins/
https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/05/30/bruins-yet-to-weigh-in-as-stoolies-attack-women-again/
yesphan
(1,587 posts)Megan !
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)The United States is caging and killing refugee children, nobody bats an eye. A soccer player declines to mouth the words of a song, and that will dominate commentary in the usual quarters.
rownesheck
(2,343 posts)She's my favorite player. I feel the same as she does. The pledge of allegiance is even worse. Right now, it feels like pledging allegiance to an evil entity. I won't do it.
JudyM
(29,233 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)mahatmakanejeeves
(57,417 posts)BY JASON DILL
JUNE 25, 2019 10:10 AM, UPDATED 4 HOURS 28 MINUTES AGO
{Snip the video; I can't link to it. It's from the visit of the Philadelphia Eagles to the WH. Here it is, in a nutshell: "me, me, me, me...."}
During the course of the 2019 FIFA Womens World Cup, U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe has stood with her teammates for the national anthem, but has not sung the lyrics to the Star-Spangled Banner.
Rapinoe once knelt for the anthem in solidarity with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernicks anthem protest, and has continued her silent protest at the WWC in France, according to multiple reports.
Ill probably never put my hand over my heart, Rapinoe told Yahoo Sports in May. Ill probably never sing the national anthem again.
President Donald Trump has now commented on whether her actions are appropriate.
I dont think so, President Trump told The Hill. ... While disagreeing with Rapinoes actions, Trump praised the USWNT. ... I love watching womens soccer, Trump said, according to The Hill. Theyre really talented.
....
BY JORDAN FABIAN AND SAAGAR ENJETI - 06/24/19 08:33 PM EDT
President Trump on Monday said he does not think it's appropriate for Megan Rapinoe, a co-captain of the U.S. women's soccer team, to protest during the national anthem.
"No. I dont think so," Trump said in an exclusive interview with The Hill when asked about Rapinoe's actions.
Rapinoe has previously knelt during The Star-Spangled Banner." During this year's Women's World Cup, she has abstained from singing along during pregame ceremonies. Rapinoe, who is gay, has referred to herself as a "walking protest."
....
Brett Samuels contributed.
Unsolicited advice for the USWNT: do not even appear in the same ZIP code with this guy. If you walk away, even at a stroll, he can't catch you.
President Trump says U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe is wrong to protest during national anthem https://cbsn.ws/2KzwUaF
Link to tweet
BY CHRISTOPHER BRITO
JUNE 25, 2019 / 12:08 PM / CBS NEWS
President Trump has called U.S. women's soccer co-captain Meghan Rapinoe's protest during the national anthem inappropriate. The star forward has been protesting during the "Star Spangled Banner" since former 49ers quarterback Colin Kapernick began doing it at NFL games to call attention to police brutality and social injustice in 2016.
After the USA's 2-1 victory over Spain Monday, Mr. Trump gave an interview to The Hill about the team and Rapinoe, who scored both goals in the thrilling win. When asked if he thought Rapinoe protesting during the anthem was appropriate, he replied, "No. I don't think so."
Rapinoe, who is openly gay, initially started to protest in solidarity with Kapernick by kneeling when the anthem was played at National Women's Soccer League and women's national team games. But when the U.S. Soccer Federation adopted a policy that requires players to "stand and honor" the flag, she decided to follow it.
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First published on June 25, 2019 / 12:08 PM
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