A fist raised and a knee taken: US gold medalists Gwen Berry and Race Imboden protest racism, social injustice

“Somebody has to talk about the things that are too uncomfortable to talk about. Somebody has to stand for all of the injustices that are going on in America and a president who’s making it worse,” said hammer thrower Gwen Berry

Olympic fencing medallist Race Imboden took a knee in protest during his team’s foil medal ceremony at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru on August 9, 2019

American gold medalist fencer Race Imboden took a knee and hammer thrower Gwen Berry raised her fist – as other politically-engaged athletes have done in the past – during the playing of the US national anthem at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, to protest social injustice and to call attention to their country’s racism, mistreatment of immigrants, and ongoing gun violence epidemic.

NFL players renew protests: kneel, raise fists during US anthem

Miami Dolphins defensive end Robert Quinn raises his right fist during the US national anthem, before a pre-season game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 9 | Wilfredo Lee / AP

Despite threats by U.S. president, players persist in taking a stand in favour of social justice. The protests objectively target the state and its character as a racist state with impunity to kill and to disregard the rule of law, at home and abroad. This is a just and significant stand by all the athletes and the millions of Americans and people around the world who have joined in expressing support for them.

Kaepernick’s ex-teammate Eric Reid files collusion grievance against NFL cartel

AP | NEW YORK (May 2) —The NFL players’ union says former San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid filed a grievance against the league, alleging that he remains unsigned as a result of collusion by owners.

In this Sept. 10, 2017, file photo, then-San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (35) kneels in front of teammates during the playing of the national anthem before a game against the Carolina Panthers.  (MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Trump comments on NFL players are a demand for loyalty

ANTHEM PROTESTS TARGETED U.S. STATE | ATHLETES REFUSING TO BE SILENT

Kappa Alpha Psi alumni chapter in Detroit march. The demonstrators expressed their firm support for alumni quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

In an interview on Fox & Friends that aired today, Trump praised a newly-adopted NFL policy banning kneeling during the anthem, saying of the athletes that “maybe you shouldn’t be in the country” if you don’t stand for the anthem. “I think that’s good,” Trump said in the interview that taped Wednesday. “I don’t think people should be staying in the locker rooms, but still I think it’s good. You have to stand proudly for the national anthem. Or you shouldn’t be playing, you shouldn’t be there. Maybe you shouldn’t be in the country.” 

NFL cartel bans players from kneeling during US anthem

The measure aims at players’ protests against police brutality and racism and enforces Trump’s demands for loyalty to the US state

Michael Zagaris/Getty Images (Click to enlarge)

The owners of NFL teams have agreed on a new policy banning players from kneeling down when the national anthem is played, directly aiming at protests opposing police brutality and killings of unarmed African Americans, and impunity for these crimes that were the centre of national debate in 2016 and 2017 after former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kicked off the peaceful protest.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar urges athletes to continue political protests

(December 8 ) Reuters – NBA Hall of Fame centre Kareem Abdul-Jabbar says NFL players and other professional athletes should continue their protests against police brutality in the United States and has rejected the notion that speaking out is in any way unpatriotic.

The NFL’s Spartacus moment

Colin Kaepernick would be playing in the NFL if it weren’t for his views | RICK SALUTIN

On the non-metaphorical level, it’s clear Colin Kaepernick, if it weren’t for his protests during the U.S. anthem, would be playing in the NFL. The Cleveland Browns have run through 25 lesser quarterbacks in 18 years. This year they started with three, who’d never won an NFL game. They still haven’t.