U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem Sunday night before the Seattle Reign’s game against the Chicago Red Stars “in a little nod” to NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the national anthem to protest racial injustice and minority oppression came to public notice when he remained seated on the bench before a preseason game against Green Bay. On Thursday night in San Diego, he and safety Eric Reid knelt during the anthem before a game against the Chargers.
“It was very intentional,” Rapinoe told American Soccer Now after Seattle’s 2-2 tie in the National Women’s Soccer League game. “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.
“Being a gay American, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties. It was something small that I could do and something that I plan to keep doing in the future and hopefully spark some meaningful conversation around it. It’s important to have white people stand in support of people of color on this. We don’t need to be the leading voice, of course, but standing in support of them is something that’s really powerful.”
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane showed his support for Kaepernick by sitting on the bench during the national anthem at a preseason game in Oakland.
The 31-year-old Rapinoe has played for Seattle since 2013, after a stint with the French team Olympique Lyon. A standout at the University of Portland, she made her name with the senior U.S. Women’s national team in 2006. Known for her creativity on the field, she has played in two Women’s World Cups and two Olympics.
She injured her knee last December during training and required surgery, but was able to come back and play in the Rio Games. The United States, which had won three straight gold medals in the sport, was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Sweden.
Since coming out in 2012, Rapinoe has been devoted advocate for LGBT rights and has worked with the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and other organizations.
Rapinoe also has been vocal about pay equity, and was among five national team players who lent their names to a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging wage discrimination. The players claim that members of the team make in some cases up to four times less than their male national team counterparts.
She has frequently spoken out on Twitter, delving into politics and even calling out NWSL when a match was played on an extremely narrow field earlier this summer.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Meg knows oppression? The indignation of growing up in a wealthy community. Being ferried to soccer games in sometimes moderate traffic. Playing a kids game well into adulthood. How come Meg doesn’t say anything about haters in the middle east who persecute women as a matter of routine?
Well said Main Street.
I think each individual sport should tell their players that kind of action is entirely inappropriate the 1st time they do it. The 2nd time they should be warned & fined; then the 3rd time they should be out on their butt. Their are people out there who are willing to show the respect our flag & national anthem deserves who can take their place.
Over paid, disrespectful clowns
I totally agree with you. How can they be so disrespectful?
Because the US Constitution says they can. See Freedom of Speech. Fire her and the team will face a wrongful termination suit and probably a discrimination suit since she is a lesbian. My suggestion is an economic boycott–her sponsors, the team, the businesses that buy any kind of advertising space from the team. Be sure and tell everyone you include THAT you are boycotting them and why. Money talks. Losing money talks louder.
Dear Media – please stop giving these unpatriotic pukes attention
SHE NEED TO BE EXECUTE FOR BEEN A STINKY AMERICAN.
WHO EVER TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE GOOD PLAYER.
Amen Jane. Disgusting.
I have no use for these ignorant people like this idiot andthevone( I will not call his name) they both should be deported from these USA, I truly mean it !!
If the idiots don’t want to stand, don’t let them play the sport they so call LOVE. Kick them off the team and don’t let them play on another U.S. Team. Go to a country that you can cry and play there.
Maybe she has’t figured out she represents the flag she disrespects. Throw this disrespectful loudmouth off the team.
Nothing like using our National Anthem to get attention……these morons just show how ignorant they are. They should go find another country to live in….they will never find one as good as ours….
This stuff makes me sick. I’ve lived in other countries and been in over twenty countries. This is the best place in the world to live no matter what your ethnicity, religion, etc. Let these morons go live somewhere else.
Unfortunately, as long as the REST of US do STAND for this CRAP then “They” will continue to grab headlines by pulling THEIR crap. Here’s the PROBLEMA, starting the VERY DAY the NBA STUCK THEIR NOSE into OUR POLITICAL BUSINESS in NC, STARTING that VERY DAY, ANY NBA games played ANYWHERE in America should have been playing to an EMPTY ARENA. EMPTY! AND, by now their SPONSORS should be SCREAMING for relief because they are on the verge of BANKRUPTCY! THEN, the FIRST time the Little PUKE wouldn’t stand at a Football game for the Anthem and the NFL did NOTHING about it the same thing should have happened in the Football Stadiums and to THEIR SPONSORS! The Soccer Bitch wouldn’t even have DARED to open IT’S mouth! As long as the LITTLE BABIES in this country REFUSE to TAKE A STAND AGAINST this kind of CRAP because they “Can’t be EXPECTED to MISS A GAME” it will ONLY GET WORSE. You WATCH, 10 to 1 WE ARE HEADED FOR A REPLACEMENT of our National Anthem!!!! Here’s a QUESTION, what’s MORE important a STUPID GAME or what kind of FREAK CREATURE is ALLOWED in the BATHROOM WITH YOUR WIVES and DAUGHTERS and GRANDAUGHTERS????? Or another one, what’s MORE important the BLOOD and SWEAT and TEARS SHED and LIVES GIVEN in defense of this Country by OUR FAMILIES and FREINDS or the FEELINGS of some LITTLE OVERPAID BITCH FOOTBALL PLAYER??????? STAND THE EFFFFFFFF UP DAMMIT!!!!! CHOOSE ASIDE and MAKE A COMMITMENT FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIVES!!!!!!! Miss the GAME!!!!!!!!
Amen, Mike I agree 100%
Respect gets respect, I see none here. These athletic jerks that refuse to stand for our National Anthem are protected by the Constitution, that same document allows us to boycott the games they play in.
With the leadership in our capital that disrespects everything this nation stands for what can we expect. I hope that Mr. Trump will be able to get this nation respected again and stand for the values we hold dear.
What this nut case fails to realize is that flag and the many men and women that have died in defense of the American is the reason she has the right to be gay and to shoot her mouth off. Is America perfect? No it is not perfect but is so far ahead of the rest, Even with all our faults I wouldn’t choose to live any where else. So grow up and get over your self importance.
If this kind of action is not acknowledged it is a mute statement. Stand up, sit down, roll over or hop on one foot. This is done simply for attention. Don’t give them any. When my children threw a tantrum, I stepped over them and kept going.
Every professional sport team that allows this disrespectful behavior will not get one dime of my money to sponsors, tickets or memorabilia.
wow! a lot of attention for somebody not standing up, and choosing to sit down. What if we give the attention to the Dakota pipe line issue where we have about 5000 + native americans from all around the country doing a stand against the abuse of the elite in taking lands that don’t belong to them, that are sacred and threatens on water contamination. This is conflictive abuse where we should have our attention. How come the news don’t talk about this. Should we be upset about this too, or just ignore it ? what do you think which is more important to cover.
Who cares? Why is this news?
The only way they can get by with this is if we let them . She is just another puke has been looking for attention. Don’t give it to her And do not support the team that keeps her. Fan’s can and should ruin any game she’s aloud to play in, Boycott the team .Don’t go to the game, don’t buy the tickets , ,jerseys ,or refreshments. empty pockets speaks louder than words. the same with these collages that disrespect our country. Stop donating, stop the grants and gifts. make the forever students go to work and pay their way. And no more freebies for Foreiners.
Excuse me that should read —–allowed.
Deport the sniveling jerks along with anyone disrespecting the flag. A lot of good men and women have sacrificed greatly for the rights these ungrateful spoiled brats abuse.
To anyone who thinks our flag means white privelage, you better look again. Many fine black men and women as well as native Americans and other races fought and died for that Grand Old Flag. Go through any cemetery and see just how many names have a military rank in front or their names. To disrespect the flag is the same as spitting on those who died for others rites.
This country is allowing a few ignorant a$$es special privelages because they think they deserve more than those who died for the rites of others.
The man called X
Send her to the Middle East and see how she’s treated over there.????????????????