The show of defiance comes hours after Trump on Sunday morning renewed his demand that NFL owners fire or suspend players who
kneel during the national anthem in protest, again urging that fans should boycott the sport to force change.
With the recent furor over NFL players staying on the bench or taking a knee
during the national anthem in protest, John Legend and Jesse Williams want to shine a contextual spotlight on one of the most famous examples of athletics and politics...
Several New England Patriots players kneel
during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo / Michael Dwyer)
NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick made a lot of news last season when he protested police violence and racial injustice by
sitting during the National Anthem before games.
The offensive remark referred to the protests sweeping the NFL in response to violence against African Americans, with teammates taking a knee instead of
standing during the national anthem.
Related: Rams safety tackles Vernon Davis by his dick Related: Knowshon Moreno was crying
during the National Anthem of the Chiefs - Broncos game Related: Knowshon Moreno does military crawl celebration after crucial first down against Chief Related: Vernon Davis hurdles defender en route to touchdown Related: Mike Glennon has comical fumble against Panthers in Red Zone
More than 200 NFL players kneeled or sat
during the national anthems on Sunday in solidarity with players who have done so to protest police brutality, after President Trump controversially called for those who don't stand during the anthem to be fired.
Trump over the weekend criticized football players who kneel
during the national anthem at football games, which began as a method of protesting police brutality.
And while a group of Titans players raised their
fists during the national anthem last season, DaQuan Jones fears continuing to do so could affect his employment in the future.
On Monday night, Cleveland Browns» tight end Seth DeValve became the first white player to take a knee
during the national anthem since Colin Kaepernick first kicked off the wave of pro-football player protests last year.
Earlier this summer, he made headlines for putting his arm around teammate Malcolm
Jenkins during his national anthem protest, explaining to the Philadelphia Inquirer, «I thought it was important that athletes with my skin color stood up with others protesting for racial equality.»
Kaepernick was the first player to demonstrate
during the National Anthem during the NFL's preseason, but has since been joined by athletes around the country, including at high school games and other professional sporting events.
In light of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School players» decision to stand
during the national anthem over the course of the season, a debate has arisen over what administration should have done had players decided to take a knee.
In a show of unity and leadership, Indiana Fever players are expected to join their competitors from opposing WNBA teams in a leaguewide show of
unity during the national anthem of this weekend's games.
«I don't know if the most effective way is to sit down
during the national anthem with a country that's providing you freedom, providing you $ 16 million a year... when there are black minorities that are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan for less than $ 20,000 a year.»
Sales of Villanueva gear soared Monday after the offensive lineman was spotted standing with his hand over his
heart during the national anthem before the Steelers played the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
It would take a pretty monumental failure to get
booed during the National Anthem, in fact it might take Rosanne Barr running on field, stealing the microphone, and yelping out her own strains of the anthem to rile up the crowd in New Orleans.
New York Liberty guard Brittany Boyd bowed her head while sitting on the
bench during the national anthem as the rest of her team locked arms before their first playoff game against the Phoenix Mercury at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.