A day after President Donald Trump condemned athletes who protested during the national anthem, NFL players took their demonstrations international on Sunday by kneeling during "The Star-Spangled Banner" in London. An early-morning NFL game pivoting the Baltimore Ravens and the Jacksonville Jaguars at England's Wembley Stadium saw mass protests by both teams, a show of defiance against the president's divisive rhetoric.
United they kneel. #Jaguars & #Ravens #TakeAKnee at the NFL game at Wembley Stadium. pic.twitter.com/9l5MENfbBv
— James Melville (@JamesMelville) September 24, 2017
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan, who donated $1 million to the Trump campaign, also joined the protest, locking arms with the players.
#Jaguars owner Shad Khan locking arms with TE Marcedes Lewis and LB Telvin Smith. #BALvsJAX pic.twitter.com/h9LtM9s81Y — Andrew Gibson (@1010XLAG) September 24, 2017
Trump on Saturday said that NFL players should be forbidden from disrespecting the flag and demanded that they stand for the national anthem. If they failed to do so, Trump suggested that the players should be cut from their respective teams.
If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL,or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
...our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU'RE FIRED. Find something else to do!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
Trump's tweets on Saturday didn't just instigate a feud with football players. Trump also drew the ire of NBA stars after he disinvited the Golden State Warriors from visiting the White House in celebration of their national championship. Trump only rescinded the invite after Steph Curry indicated that he and his team would not be seeing the president this year.
Trump then decided to take on the entire sports world by commenting on the NFL protests. Owners from around the league responded by denouncing Trump's hateful rhetoric.
49ers CEO, Jed York: https://t.co/e4XZAJ5Jct
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 23, 2017
From President Trump's close friend Robert Kraft: "I am deeply disappointed by the tone of the comments made by the president on Friday." pic.twitter.com/gNQks6TWPj
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) September 24, 2017
Statement from Buffalo Bills Owners Terry and Kim Pegula. pic.twitter.com/i3D5xzBBSn
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) September 24, 2017
Statement from Dee and Jimmy Haslam pic.twitter.com/QvCmKPkKwc
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 24, 2017
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