During the national anthem before Sunday’s match against the Chicago Red Stars, Rapinoe took a knee to support Colin Kaepernick.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback found himself in a lot of controversy last month after refusing to stand for the national anthem before an NFL preseason game. He did this in protest over how black American citizens have been treated and the police brutality they have suffered as well. His silent protest isn’t just staying with him, though.
Before the Seattle Reign took on the Chicago Red Stars in the NWSL on Sunday, Megan Rapinoe joined San Francisco 49er Colin Kaepernick in silent protest during The Star-Spangled Banner by taking a knee.
In an interview with American Soccer Now’s John Halloran, Rapinoe opened up about why she didn’t stand:
It was a little nod to Kaepernick and everything that he’s standing for right now. I think it’s actually pretty disgusting the way he was treated and the way that a lot of the media has covered it and made it about something that it absolutely isn’t. We need to have a more thoughtful, two-sided conversation about racial issues in this country.
Rapinoe also gave her own personal reasons for not standing during the anthem and how she can relate to Kaepernick’s struggles:
Being a gay American, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties.
Rapinoe is not alone in joining Kaepernick. Other NFL players, including Seattle’s Jeremy Lane and 49er Eric Reid have also joined the silent protest.
This isn’t the first time Rapinoe has spoken out in support of other protest groups. For example, last month the WBNA announced that they would fine players for wearing Black Lives Matter shirts. In an interview with Excelle Sports, Rapinoe said “I get sort of in theory where [the WNBA] is coming from, but it’s just so insensitive and so f***ing stupid that they would fine players for a Black Lives Matter shirt.”
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