query: who was the first nfl player to protest the national anthem

pos: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) others have called the protests unpatriotic and disrespectful of the U.S. flag, the national anthem, the police, and the military. The protests began in the National Football League (NFL) after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat and later knelt during the anthem, before his team's preseason games of 2016. Throughout the following seasons, members of various NFL and other sports teams have engaged in similar silent protests. On September 24, 2017, the NFL protests became more widespread when over 200 players sat or knelt in response to President Donald Trump's calling for owners to "fire" the protesting players. It

pos: U.S. national anthem protests of protest at America's wars in the Middle East. During 2016, several professional athletes protested police brutality during the United States (U.S.) national anthem. The protests began in the National Football League (NFL) after San Francisco 49ers quarterback (QB) Colin Kaepernick sat during the anthem, as opposed to the tradition of standing, before his team's third preseason game of 2016. Kaepernick also sat during the first two preseason games, but he went unnoticed. The protests have generated mixed reactions and have since spread to other U.S. sports leagues. Stemming from the Kaepernick controversy, before the beginning of the 2016 World

pos: Albert Breer MMQB. In May 2017 Breer dismissed widely reported allegations that baseball player Adam Jones was the target of racist taunts by fans at Fenway Park because, according to Breer "I've probably been to 200 games at Fenway in my life. Never heard a slur yelled at a player." In 2017 Breer repeatedly defended NFL front offices against allegations of "Blackballing" Colin Kaepernick for his decision to protest the national anthem. Albert Breer Albert Breer (born January 26, 1980) is a current American football journalist and reporter for Sports Illustrated's MMQB. Breer spent time covering the Patriots for the Metrowest Daily

pos: Racial views of Donald Trump Dallas Cowboys's owner Jerry Jones after he announced that he would bench players who failed to stand during the anthem. That month Colin Kaepernick filed a collusion case against the NFL, charging that NFL owners, under the influence of Trump, had colluded to agree not to hire Kaepernick as punishment for his protests. In a player-owner meeting several owners expressed reluctance to continue allowing players to protest as they feared Trump. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a public supporter of Trump, stated “The problem we have is, we have a president who will use that as fodder to do

pos: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) 3 of the season the majority of games were played two days after Trump made his statements. The protest gained broader participation when over 200 players sat or knelt during the anthem. Many players, coaches and NFL teams protested and/or issued statements expressing dismay with Trump's comments: On October 16, 2017 Colin Kaepernick filed a grievance for collusion against NFL owners. Instead of using the NFLPA, Kaepernick hired Mark Geragos to be his attorney. As of August 31, 2018, an arbitrator ruled that there is sufficient evidence that the case can continue. In Week 8 at Seattle, the majority of

pos: 2017 NFL season Donald Trump made controversial remarks criticizing the practice of taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem—a practice popularized by Colin Kaepernick in 2016 as part of an effort to protest racial inequality and police brutality. Trump suggested that those who partake in the practice were disrespecting the country's heritage, and asked his audience, "wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He's fired. He's fired!'" During the subsequent weekend of games, over 200 players protested the

pos: Alejandro Villanueva (American football) against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, the Steelers did not take the field for the national anthem in order to avoid getting caught up in the controversy related to players kneeling or displaying other signs of racial protest around the NFL started by Colin Kaepernick. Villanueva was the lone member of the Steelers to appear publicly for the national anthem, standing in front of the entrance tunnel for the performance while the rest of the team remained in the locker room. Head coach Mike Tomlin stated a wish to simply play the game and not allow for any show

pos: Social media and television up with their day-to-day life. The national anthem protests during the 2017–2018 football season, where NFL players knelt for the American national anthem drew the attention of social media users. The protests began with former quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, Colin Kaepernick, who refused to stand during the playing of the national anthem before the start of the game. Kaepernick told NFL Media, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish

pos: Racial views of Donald Trump legal director Cecilia Wang, the pardon was "a presidential endorsement of racism". In August 2016 Colin Kaepernick, an NFL quarterback, began sitting (later kneeling) during the playing of the U.S. national anthem before games as a protest of police brutality and racial inequality suffered by Black Americans. Then-candidate Trump entered into the debate within days, stating of Kaepernick, “I think it’s personally not a good thing, I think it’s a terrible thing. And, you know, maybe he should find a country that works better for him. Let him try, it won’t happen.” Shortly after the start of the next NFL

pos: Kenner, Louisiana use or delivery to any City of Kenner Recreating facility" ostensibly as a reaction to the decision by Nike to feature Colin Kaepernick in its advertising after his decision to kneel during the playing of the US national anthem at NFL games to protest inequality and police brutality. On September 12, Mayor Zahn reversed the ban after political and legal criticism, stating that it "placed Kenner in a false and unflattering light on the national stage." Kenner's coordinates are (30.009610, −90.250585) and has an elevation of 0 ft (0 m). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has

pos: Megan Rapinoe California farm that had built a corn maze in the shape of Rapinoe's face. On September 4, 2016, during a game in Chicago against the Red Stars, Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback who refused to stand during the anthem to protest what he calls racial injustice and minority oppression. She said at the time she planned to continue to kneel. Later that week on September 7, the Washington Spirit uncharacteristically played the national anthem prior to the teams taking the field, indicating that they did not want to "subject

pos: The Star-Spangled Banner motivated protests of the national anthem began in the National Football League (NFL) after San Francisco 49ers quarterback (QB) Colin Kaepernick sat during the anthem, as opposed to the tradition of standing, in response to police brutality in America, before his team's third preseason game of 2016. Kaepernick also sat during the first two preseason games, but he went unnoticed. In November 2017, the California Chapter of the NAACP called on Congress to remove "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the national anthem. Alice Huffman, California NAACP president said: "it's racist; it doesn't represent our community, it's anti-black." The third stanza of

pos: San Francisco 49ers ESPN ranking of professional sports franchises, the 49ers were ranked the worst franchise in North America. The 49ers ended up firing Kelly and Baalke following the conclusion of the regular season, finishing with a 2–14 record. In 2016, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started a trend of kneeling during the playing of the national anthem. Intended to protest the treatment of minorities in the United States, the trend spread throughout the NFL and stirred political controversy. President Donald Trump spoke out against the protests a number of times, and Vice President Mike Pence walked out of a 49ers game in October

pos: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) 2017 Sanderson Farms CEO questioned whether the NFL protests were to blame for falling chicken wing prices. After his first kneel in 2016, Nike was well on its way to sever its four year long partnership with NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Nigel Powell, chief communications executive of Nike, convinced the company to maintain their partnership with Kaepernick which eventually led to the launch of the politically and socially controversial advertisement released in 2018, "Nike - Dream Crazy", with Kaepernick as their face of the campaign. Despite the prevalent backlash on social media of people who criticized Kaepernick's actions burning and

pos: Black Lives Matter Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Black Lives Matter protested the death of Bruce Kelley Jr. who was shot after fatally stabbing a police dog while trying to escape from police the previous January. Beginning in August, several professional athletes have participated in the 2016 U.S. national anthem protests. The protests began in the National Football League (NFL) after Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers sat during the anthem, as opposed to the tradition of standing, before his team's third preseason game of 2016. During a post-game interview he explained his position stating, "I am not going to stand up to show pride

pos: Eric Reid (American football) information pertained to his collusion lawsuit. Head coach Ron Rivera announced on October 5, 2018 that Reid would start at the free safety position in his season debut against the Giants on October 7, 2018. Reid ended up taking a knee before the game, becoming the first Panthers player ever to do so, and totaled three tackles. In October 2017, Reid filed an official grievance letter with the NFL alleging that team owners and the league, influenced by President Donald Trump, colluded to prevent his employment due to his protest activities. Reid was the second NFL player after Colin Kaepernick

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) the Texans players knelt during the anthem after Houston owner Bob McNair had commented about having the "inmates running the prison" during a league owner meeting regarding the ongoing protest. McNair had apologized, stating that he was not referring to the players, but rather to the "relationship between the league office and team owners". It was the first time a Texans player had knelt during the anthem. On May 23, 2018, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and all NFL team owners except for two owners that abstained from voting in a show of hand voting process, approved a new policy requiring

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) charity work related to the protest. In September 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at a rally in Huntsville, Alabama, said NFL owners should fire players who kneel during the national anthem, and encouraged fans to walk out. Trump tried to use his position at the administration to advise NFL owners to say "Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out, he's fired. He's fired!" Trump called the players' protest "a total disrespect of our heritage". He went on to say that new NFL safety rules meant to protect players from concussions are ruining the game

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) all players to stand during the national anthem or be given the option to stay in the locker room during the national anthem. The vote took place without consulting the NFLPA. Any players from all NFL teams who protest the anthem while on the field will become subject to discipline from the league. In addition, the teams as a whole will be subject to punishment and other forms of discipline from the NFL as a result. In disagreement with the policy, several players on the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles indicated they would decline an invitation from Trump to visit

neg: National Football League controversies NFL's ratings have begun to drop. Speculation about the unexpected rating drops covers a myriad of possibilities, including: The loss in viewership is potentially worrisome for the larger networks that are spending roughly $5 billion for football rights through the 2021 season. Some news agencies are suggesting the decline in viewership is about the recent protest by some players of the US anthem. The NFL addressed this concern in a memo leaked on Twitter to the NFL organizations "that we see no evidence that concern over player protests during the National Anthem is having any material impact on our ratings."

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) police brutality. "After hours of careful consideration, and even a visit from Nate Boyer, a retired Green Beret and former NFL player, we came to the conclusion that we should kneel, rather than sit, ... during the anthem as a peaceful protest," said Reid. "We chose to kneel because it's a respectful gesture. I remember thinking our posture was like a flag flown at half-mast to mark a tragedy." Some regard kneeling as disrespectful to those who have died or been wounded in service of the United States, such as police officers or military veterans. Torrey Smith, a wide receiver

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) threatened to kick any player out of the football team if he knelt during the national anthem. Two black students on the Victory & Praise Christian Academy football team protested during the anthem. Immediately after the anthem concluded, their coach removed them from the team, having them take off their uniforms on the sidelines. On September 23, 2017, Bruce Maxwell of the Oakland Athletics knelt during the national anthem, becoming the first MLB player to join the protest. His team backed him up by saying, "The Oakland A's pride ourselves on being inclusive. We respect and support all of our

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) many prominent players have expressed support for the NFL protests on social media or in interviews. On October 7, 2017, J. T. Brown of the Tampa Bay Lightning raised his fist while standing on the bench during the national anthem. He had also done the same in a preseason game, in an attempt to "bring awareness to police brutality against minorities and racial inequality". He stated that he had "received death threats" after the protest. In September 2016, President Barack Obama stated that Kaepernick was "exercising his constitutional right" to protest. He went on: "I don't doubt his sincerity. I

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) 2000) to Sanford Pentagon, South Dakota. On September 2, 2016, a football player at Brunswick High School in Ohio knelt during the national anthem after he heard his teammates saying "nigger". After his protest, the player received racial threats. On September 9, high school players across the country knelt during the national anthem. On September 23, four players from Withrow High School, three black and one white, in Cincinnati knelt during the national anthem before their football game. In September 2017, Principal Waylon Bates of Parkway High School in Louisiana referred to the national anthem protests as a "disruption" and

neg: Peter T. King to the NY Jets owner supporting NFL players' right to peacefully protest by kneeling during the national anthem, King likened the protest to that of "Nazi salutes". King voted for the 2008 Wall Street bailout, saying it was "necessary for the financial health of New York and his district." He opposed the 2009 economic stimulus package and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. King was one of five Republican congressmembers from New York who voted against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He voted against it due to the $10,000 cap the bill would impose on

neg: Colin Kaepernick years consecutively. He opted out of his contract with the 49ers to become a free agent after the 2016 season. During the 49ers' third preseason game in 2016, Kaepernick began to sit during the playing of the U.S. national anthem prior to games, rather than stand as is customary, as a protest against racial injustice and systematic oppression in the country. The following week, and throughout the regular season, Kaepernick began kneeling during the anthem instead. The actions resulted in a wider protest movement, which intensified in September 2017 after president Donald Trump suggested that NFL owners should fire players

neg: Brandon Marshall (linebacker) with $20 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $10 million. On September 8, 2016, Marshall became the third NFL player to join in protest of American police brutality and racism by kneeling during the national anthem before the season opener against the Carolina Panthers. As a result, on September 10, Air Academy Federal Credit Union dropped an advertising endorsement deal with Marshall. On September 14, 2016, in a Super Bowl 50 rematch in the 2016 regular season opener, Marshall was fined $24,309 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Panthers' quarterback Cam Newton. Marshall is the son of Barbara Marshall. He

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) Boyer, Kaepernick opted to kneel during the U.S. national anthem rather than sit as he did in their previous games. He explained his decision to switch was an attempt to show more respect to former and current U.S. military members while still protesting during the anthem. Eric Reid joined Kaepernick in kneeling during the national anthem during the final preseason game. Seattle Seahawks player Jeremy Lane also did not stand for the anthem during his final preseason game the same day, stating, "It's something I plan to keep on doing until justice is being served." In Week 1, eleven NFL

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) for the public. His statement came after new research indicates NFL players are at high risk for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) due to the likelihood of multiple head injuries. Trump denied his criticism of the protesters was related to race. "This has to do with respect for our country and respect for our flag," he said. In the games immediately following Trump's statements, the protest gained broader participation when over 200 players sat or knelt during the anthem, others linked arms with their teammates or raised fists, and three teams chose to stay in the locker room for the anthem.

neg: Bob McNair a game against the Seattle Seahawks, the majority of the Texans' players kneeled during the national anthem after McNair had commented about having the "inmates running the prison" during a league owner meeting regarding the ongoing protests by NFL players during the anthem. McNair had apologized, stating that he was not referring to the players, but rather to the "relationship between the league office and team owners." It was the first time a Texans player had knelt during the anthem. Robert McNair was a member of the Texas Business Hall of Fame and was a current or past member of

neg: John Scully (American football) he was a team captain and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American as the team's center. He is the writer of the popular Notre Dame anthem "Here Come the Irish." The Atlanta Falcons chose Scully in the fourth round (109th pick overall) of the 1981 NFL Draft, and he played for the Falcons from to . In his ten-year NFL career, he played in 112 games and started eighty-two of them. John Scully (American football) John Francis Scully, Jr. (born August 2, 1958) is a former American college and professional football player who was a guard in the National

neg: Eric Reid (American football) to participate in U.S. national anthem protests intended to highlight social awareness and racial injustice towards people of color. Reid's lawyers also represent Kaepernick in a similar grievance case against the NFL. Trump, who publicly condemned the kneeling protests and urged that the protesting players be fired, had private conversations with NFL owners about the player protests during the time period. Team owners have said they are concerned about being in conflict with Trump in regards to the anthem protests. During a job interview with Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown, Reid reportedly refused to say whether he would obey a

neg: U.S. national anthem protests her performance, yet she is trying to censor the national anthem by refusing to perform where it is played." In 1996, there was protest in the NBA, when Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, guard for the Denver Nuggets, refused to stand during the anthem before games in protest of anti-Islamic rhetoric. He was suspended for his actions and received hostile responses and death threats, but the issue receiving widespread attention. It was noted that at the same time Sam Perkins, who played for the Seattle SuperSonics, is a Jehovah's Witness who refuse to pledge allegiance to any government; he stood apart from his

neg: National symbols of Lithuania date from the second half of the 14th century. "Vytis" is engraved on all current Lithuanian coins, is displayed on many Lithuanian postage stamps and official documents, and is part of the URL of official Lithuanian websites. The US NFL player Joe Jurevicius bears a "Vytis" prominently tattooed on his arm as a symbol of his Lithuanian ancestry. "Tautiška giesmė" is the national anthem of Lithuania. The music and lyrics were written in 1898 by Vincas Kudirka. The song was first publicly performed in Vilnius in 1905, and became the official national anthem in 1919. It was replaced by another

neg: Colin Kaepernick who protest the national anthem. In November 2017, Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL and its owners, accusing them of colluding to not hire him after going unsigned prior to the start of the 2017 season. Kaepernick was born in 1987 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Heidi Russo, a 19-year-old Caucasian woman. His birth father was African-American and separated from Russo before Kaepernick was born. Russo placed Kaepernick for adoption with Rick and Teresa Kaepernick, a couple who had two older children, son Kyle and daughter Devon. The Kaepernicks decided to adopt a boy after losing two other sons to

neg: Mark Davis (American football) with direct involvement with the Tracey Biletnikoff Foundation, created by Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff to support community substance abuse treatment and domestic violence programs. Davis has spoken out publicly on the controversial National Anthem protests in the NFL where players kneel during the playing of the pre-game National Anthem to protest social injustice and police brutality on African Americans. Davis originally preferred his players to stand but after comments made by President Donald Trump calling protesting players "Sons of Bitches" and saying they should be fired for kneeling Davis changed his stance in a public statement the following weekend

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) Alabama seat in the U.S. Senate, recovery efforts for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and Hurricane Harvey in Houston, and relations with North Korea over their nuclear and missile testing. Many players beyond the 2017 season have knelt or raised fists in protest against the policies of President Donald Trump. In May 2018 on an in interview President Donald Trump went as far to say "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". He went from his previous opinion that these NFL players

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) players joined Kaepernick's protests. Denver Broncos player Brandon Marshall knelt during the national anthem prior to the start of the Kickoff game, which was broadcast on NBC. The act of kneeling as protest has been referred to as "taking a knee". Kaepernick and Marshall were teammates at the University of Nevada. On September 11, Kansas City Chiefs player Marcus Peters raised his fist while the rest of the team interlocked their arms showing solidarity. Two members of the New England Patriots, Devin McCourty and Martellus Bennett, raised their fists on "Sunday Night Football". The entire Seattle Seahawks team stood and

neg: 2018 NFL season recent National Anthem protests in the league the past two seasons, any player or staff member who is on the field during the performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" must stand for the duration of the performance. Such players and staff members are not required to be on the field at that time and may wait in the locker room as an alternative. The NFL will not directly fine offending players or staff members for defying the rule, instead fining the teams, who will in turn have power to fine the players or staff members at their own discretion. The National

neg: Akeem Spence Media-Friendly Good Guy Award by the Detroit chapter of the PFWA and Detroit Sports Media. On May 3, 2018, Spence was traded to the Miami Dolphins for a conditional 2019 seventh round pick, previously acquired from the Browns in a trade for Jarvis Landry. On January 14, 2014, Spence was arrested in Flomaton, Alabama on charges of misdemeanor marijuana possession. He was later suspended one game by the NFL for the incident.During the 2017 NFL season, Spence participated in a protest during the national anthem. Following this, he reported that his father, a contractor, was denied work due to his

neg: Colin Kaepernick national anthem rather than sit as he did in their previous games. He explained his decision to switch was an attempt to show more respect to former and current U.S. military members while still protesting during the anthem after having a conversation with former NFL player and U.S. military veteran Nate Boyer. After the September 2016 police shootings of Terence Crutcher and Keith Lamont Scott, Kaepernick commented publicly on the shootings saying, "this is a perfect example of what this is about". Kaepernick went on to kneel during the anthem prior to every 49ers game that season. After his national

neg: Washington Redskins name controversy significant population of Native Americans, such as Dallas, Denver and Minneapolis. The latter protest was supported by several Minnesota politicians. Picketing resumed for the 2014 season in Glendale, Arizona, when the team played the Arizona Cardinals, and again the largest rally was in Minneapolis, where estimates of the number of protestors was between 3,500 and 5,000. At a protest in Philadelphia in 2017, Native Americans pointed out the irony of NFL players making a statement opposing racial injustice by "taking a knee" for the National Anthem while one of the teams taking the field continues to use a racially offensive

neg: 1951 NFL season 1951 NFL season The 1951 NFL season was the 32nd regular season of the National Football League. Prior to the season, Baltimore Colts owner Abraham Watner faced financial difficulties, and thus gave his team and its player contracts back to the league for $50,000. However, many Baltimore fans started to protest the loss of their team. Supporting groups such as its fan club and its marching band remained in operation and worked for the team's revival (which eventually led to a new Baltimore team in 1953). For the first time, the NFL Championship Game was televised across the nation. The

neg: Roger Goodell of industrial justice." On May 21, 2015, "The Washington Post" published an article that Goodell's efforts to harshly suspend Brady were "part of a personal power play", supporting public claims that he was simply trying to demonstrate authority within the league. On May 23, 2018, Commissioner Goodell and certain NFL owners unanimously approved a new policy requiring all players to stand during the national anthem or given the option to stay in the locker room during the national anthem. Any players from a NFL team who protested the anthem while on the field would become subject to discipline from the

neg: Racial views of Donald Trump later pushed back against the players' concerns regarding racial inequality via Twitter, stating, "The issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race. It is about respect for our Country, Flag and National Anthem. NFL must respect this!" In October of that year, Trump had Vice President Mike Pence attend an NFL game in Indianapolis, telling him "to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country." Pence left after the anthem, an action that was seen by many as a publicity stunt. Trump's public criticisms of the player protests continued throughout the year. In October 2017 Trump publicly praised

neg: Michael Bidwill hire and he wants to win. … He doesn't have a hand in every decision, cutting this guy, bringing in this guy. He's hired the right people, and he knows it." In July 2018, Bidwill announced his support for longtime friend and fellow Georgetown Prep classmate Brett Kavanaugh as a Supreme Court Justice nominee. The move generated controversy, as Bidwill used the Arizona Cardinals website and social media outlets to voice his support. This came just two months after NFL owners voted to restrict NFL players' ability to protest during the national anthem. Wrote the Washington Post in 2009, "It's

neg: J. T. Brown (ice hockey) "he has always been someone to lean on. He and the rest of my family always have always really supported me. I can't thank them enough." On February 6, 2015, Brown married Lexi LaFleur. The couple have one daughter, Lily. On September 28, 2017, before a preseason season game versus the Florida Panthers, Brown raised his fist during the U.S. national anthem, in an attempt to "bring awareness to police brutality and inequality for minorities." He did the same on an October 7 game also against the Panthers, becoming the first NHL player to protest during the anthem in a

neg: National Football League Most Valuable Player Award National Football League Most Valuable Player Award The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award (NFL MVP) is an award given by various entities to the American football player who is considered the most valuable in the National Football League (NFL) during the regular season. Organizations which currently give an NFL MVP award or have in the past include the Associated Press (AP), the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), and United Press International (UPI). The first award described as a most valuable player award was the Joe F. Carr Trophy, awarded by the NFL from

neg: LeSean McCoy the distraction" when asked why the latter was not on an NFL roster as of 2017. However, in light of President Donald Trump's comments that NFL players who kneel during the anthem "should be fired", McCoy took part in the protests, even continuing to stretch during the anthem before a September 24 game against the Denver Broncos. McCoy defended the participation of his teammates and himself in the protests, saying that while the national anthem and flag "meant a lot" to himself and his teammates, he could not "stand and support something when the leader of this country is acting

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) players' constitutional rights and freedom of expression." Maxwell received a standing ovation from A's fans before his first at-bat following his protest. The MLB has no policy regarding the national anthem other than it has to be played before games. On September 24, 2017, prior to Game 1 of the 2017 WNBA Finals, players from the Los Angeles Sparks chose to stay in the locker room during the national anthem, while members of the Minnesota Lynx locked arms on the court. The NBA has a policy that requires players to stand up during the national anthem in their CBA, however

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) is a tradition in the United States to play "The Star-Spangled Banner", the national anthem, before sporting events. According to the United States Code, those present should stand at attention with right hand over heart. It's noteworthy, this tradition only acquired widespread practice after the year 2001, while National Football League (NFL) players were not mandated to be on the field for the playing of the national anthem until 2009. In 2016 the NFL stated that "players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem"; its game operations manual reads that players "should stand"

neg: Alex Wind first students to speak out online after the shooting. He promoted the "March for Our Lives" student protest in numerous media interviews. He sang the national anthem before a basketball game featuring the Miami Heat. At the March for Our Lives nationwide protest in Washington, he said: Alex Wind Alex Wind is an American student activist against gun violence. A survivor of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and a founding member of the Never Again MSD movement, he is a critic of politicians who are supported by the National Rifle Association. Wind was one of five Stoneman Douglas students

neg: National Anthem Bill National Anthem Bill The National Anthem Bill is a proposed law of Hong Kong to preserve the dignity of the "March of the Volunteers", national anthem of the People's Republic of China, so that the Hong Kong resident would respect the national anthem. It is proposed to implement the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the National Anthem (the National Anthem Law) by local legislation. The Hong Kong-Central Government relations grew tenser following the 2014 Hong Kong protests in which the protest moved from the street to football field. Since 2015, Hong Kong has seen a rise in

neg: Channing Dungey "Army Wives" and "Once Upon A Time", as well as the second cancellation of "Roseanne" on May 29, 2018. Dungey previously defended "Roseanne" over racially controversial jokes made on the show. Dungey was ABC Entertainment's president when a "Blackish" episode was pulled from the schedule. Dungey noted ABC executives disagreed with the creative direction of the episode, wherein the writers touched on NFL players kneeling during the American national anthem to protest police brutality and show support for black human rights. On November 16, 2018, Dungey departed from her role as President of the ABC Entertainment Group. Karey Burke, head

neg: U.S. national anthem protests Brown's Body". Well's husband, Ferdinand L. Barnett, closed the meeting appealing for calm and a careful response, but also expressing great frustration and concern that the violence against blacks may one day lead to reprisals. Refusal to stand during the national anthem became a widespread form of protest during World War I. In some cases, this was related to protest of conscription. It was also associated with support for Socialism, Bolshevism, or Communism. In one case, supporters of the Communism refused to stand during the song at a trial of Emma Goldman. The act of protest was very controversial, and

neg: Jacksonville Jaguars of the 2017 NFL Draft the Jaguars selected running back Leonard Fournette of LSU. At the annual NFL International Series in London on September 24, 2017 Jaguars players locked arms and kneeled during the national anthem in response to President Donald Trump's remarks on NFL players who kneel. Shahid Khan also participated with the Jaguars in locking arms during the anthem and the Baltimore Ravens kneeled on the opposite side of the field. The Jaguars went on to defeat the Ravens in a 44–7 win. Four weeks later on October 17, President of the Jaguars Mark Lamping sent a letter

neg: Lip sync Subsequent Super Bowl national anthems were performed live. Whitney Houston's rendition of the anthem at the 1991 Super Bowl was also reported to have been lip-synched. Such pre-recorded performances for the Super Bowl's halftime shows and national anthem have been commonplace since the 1990s; the NFL has confirmed this as standard practice. In January 1998, singer-songwriter Jewel was criticised for lip-syncing the American national anthem at the opening of the Super Bowl XXXII to a digitally-recorded track of her own voice. This was noticeable as the singer missed her cue, and thus, did not sing the first few words of

neg: History of the National Football League on their television advertising over disagreements with how the NFL handled the National Anthem protests. History of the National Football League The National Football League (NFL) was founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) with ten teams from four states, all of whom existed in some form as participants of regional leagues in their respective territories; it took on its current name in 1922. The NFL was the first professional football league to successfully establish a nationwide presence, after several decades of failed attempts. Only two teams currently in the NFL, the Decatur Staleys (now the Chicago

neg: Tom Williams (rugby player, born 1860) Tom Williams (rugby player, born 1860) Thomas Williams (1860 – 4 February 1913) was a Welsh rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and Pontypridd and international rugby for Wales. A solicitor by profession, Williams would later become a national selector for the Welsh Rugby Union. Williams was also responsible for suggesting the singing of the Welsh national anthem in a match in 1905, the first time a national anthem was sung before a sporting event. Williams was born in Llwynypia into a farming community in the Rhondda Valley and in his early years he lived in at

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) Since August 2016, some U.S. athletes have silently protested against systematic oppression, equality and social injustice, racism and injustice in the criminal system, oppression of people of color in the United States, during the playing of the U.S. national anthem by kneeling. Many players since 2017 have started to protest against the attacks of President Donald Trump to those involved in the protest. The demonstrations have generated mixed reactions. Some have described them as politically urgent or patriotic, some other have criticized the fact their attention is attracted to such social problems during sports, while

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) Mark Pocan knelt on the floor of the House the next day. On September 26, 2017, Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser told The Times-Picayune that he would not be attending the New Orleans Saints game against the Miami Dolphins, which was going to be taking place in London. Although he was going to be in London during the time of the game, he told the newspaper that he would not attend because he was "disappointed in the NFL." He added that "it is disgraceful that anybody would use that as a time to protest." On October 8, 2017, Vice President

neg: Tom Williams (rugby player, born 1860) played at the Rectory Field in Blackheath. He also refereed at least three Barbarian matches during the invitational clubs tours of South Wales. Tom Williams (rugby player, born 1860) Thomas Williams (1860 – 4 February 1913) was a Welsh rugby union forward who played club rugby for Cardiff and Pontypridd and international rugby for Wales. A solicitor by profession, Williams would later become a national selector for the Welsh Rugby Union. Williams was also responsible for suggesting the singing of the Welsh national anthem in a match in 1905, the first time a national anthem was sung before a sporting

neg: Shooting of Stephon Clark "Accountability" and "We are One" during warm-ups and the national anthem. On March 31, after an independent autopsy had concluded that Clark was shot eight times, mostly in the back, hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown Sacramento. The peaceful protest was led by retired NBA player Matt Barnes, who announced that he is starting a scholarship fund for Clark's sons. Local activist Wanda Cleveland was struck by a Sacramento County Sheriff's Department vehicle at a rally. Video of the incident shows that a number of protesters converged on official vehicles and were ordered over loudspeakers to step away. One sheriff's

neg: Brennan Gilmore was Deputy Chief of Mission in Central African Republic. His service in Africa was curtailed by a closing of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Bangui in 2012 due to security concerns. Gilmore served as Russ Feingold and Tom Perriello's top aide in their postings as U.S. Special Envoy to the African Great Lakes Region. He is currently on long-term unpaid leave from the Department of State. Brennan Gilmore's grandfather, John Middlemas, a 97-year-old World War II veteran, "took a knee" in support of NFL players protesting the national anthem, saying, "Those kids have every right to protest." Gilmore "knew it

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) Thailand on September 16, despite public statements of disagreement with her protest methods issued before the match by the U.S. Soccer Federation and her coach Jill Ellis. U.S. Soccer proceeded to pass a policy that now requires all of its players to stand "respectfully" during the national anthem making it the first American sports league or governing body to do so. Major League Soccer (MLS) have released a statement in September 2017 regarding any potential protests "The march of players, officials and children into our stadiums and singing of the anthem has been a pre-match tradition since our first game

neg: National Football League Most Valuable Player Award In 1975 UPI added a Defensive Player of the Year Award for both the NFC and AFC. National Football League Most Valuable Player Award The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award (NFL MVP) is an award given by various entities to the American football player who is considered the most valuable in the National Football League (NFL) during the regular season. Organizations which currently give an NFL MVP award or have in the past include the Associated Press (AP), the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), and United Press International (UPI). The first award described

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) should be fired to that they should "maybe" be deported. Trump applauded the new policy that NFL players must either stand for the anthem or stay back in the locker room, but felt that this policy was not strict enough. Trump even wanted players to not be able to express political views even when off the field. Kaepernick began sitting during the national anthem at the start of the 2016 NFL preseason. His actions went unnoticed for two weeks before he was questioned by the media. In the 49ers' final 2016 preseason game on September 1, 2016, after talking to

neg: Elena Kostyuchenko she said that “such a time has come.” She promised to publish a report outing closeted Duma members on the day the bill had its first reading in the State Duma. In February 2014, Kostyuchenko was one of about ten LGBT activists who were arrested during a protest in Red Square in Moscow. While the opening ceremonies of the Sochi Olympics were taking place, they sang the Russian national anthem as they displayed a rainbow flag. After her release, Kostyuchenko said she suspected police had known in advance about the protest by tapping her phone and had been waiting for

neg: Just Do It he has since then, been a free agent and not signed by any NFL team. His involvement with the advertisement, especially after the context of the controversial act of kneeling during the National Anthem in 2016, gave rise to a whole entire internet debate and social movement against Nike. Many individuals took to Twitter and other social media sites to revolt, adopting the hashtag, #JustDon't or #BoycottNike. Many prior fans of Nike have also showed signs of protest by explicitly demanding that others boycott or even go as far to burn Nike shoes or destroy various other merchandise. Nevertheless, many

neg: Seth DeValve in college DeValve worked in risk management at NRG Energy. He is married to Erica Harris whom he met while at Princeton University. On August 21, 2017 DeValve became the first white NFL player to take a knee during the national anthem. The August 2017 demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia had a lot to do with the decision, but DeValve said it was also more personal. His wife, Erica, is African-American. He said: "I myself will be raising children that don't look like me, and I want to do my part as well to do everything I can to raise them

neg: Christopher Johnson (football executive) the locker room during the pregame playing of the American anthem. While he was one of the NFL Team owners that voted for the policy enacted in May 2018 to penalize and fine any player who does not stand during the Anthem he has offered to pay the fines incurred by players who choose to kneel or stay in the locker room stating:"If somebody [on the Jets] takes a knee, that fine will be borne by the organization, by me, not the players." Johnson said. "I never want to put restrictions on the speech of our players. Do I prefer

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) cutting up their Nike brand clothing, Nike sales increased by 31% within five days after the advertisement was released. This campaign did result in a temporary drop of 2.2% in stock price though. Throughout the remainder of the 2016 season, Kaepernick received public backlash for his protest, with an anonymous NFL executive calling Kaepernick "a traitor". He also stated that he received death threats. Sportscaster Bob Costas offered support for Kaepernick stating, "Patriotism comes in many forms and what has happened is it's been conflated with a bumper-style kind of flag-waving and with the military only so that people cannot

neg: 2016 Washington Spirit season Katie Stengel slotting their penalties. The week prior to a match with the Spirit, Seattle Reign FC and U.S. women's national soccer team player Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem in a game on September 5, 2016, explaining that her decision was a "nod to Kaepernick and everything that he's standing for right now". Anticipating Rapinoe's protest, Spirit owner Bill Lynch, moved the national anthem's performance ahead of the Spirit-Reign match without warning or notice to occur before the players' appearances on the pitch. Jeff Plush, the league's commissioner, was present at the game and told reporters that he

neg: Darius Rucker of personal friend and former Bills player Bruce Smith, whose jersey was being retired that night. He sang the national anthem again ahead of the Saints-Dolphins game held at London's Wembley Stadium in October 2017, as part of the NFL International Series. Rucker was selected as one of 30 artists to perform on "Forever Country", a mash-up track of "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "On the Road Again" and "I Will Always Love You", which celebrates 50 years of the CMA Awards. On July 24, 2017, Rucker released the second single from his upcoming album, titled "For the First Time."

neg: Landon Collins him in practice. Collins' relationship with his mom has remained strained to this day ever since he chose the Crimson Tide over LSU. Landon's brother, Gerald, convinced Justin to come to the 2015 NFL Draft by offering her a free spa session in Chicago, the host site for the draft. The two have never directly addressed Landon's decision to choose Alabama over LSU, which causes the issue to remain a source of tension in their relationship. Following President Donald Trump's comments in which he said that any player who kneels during the National Anthem should be fired or suspended, Collins

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) Spirit owner Bill Lynch – anticipating Rapinoe's protest – moved the national anthem's performance without warning or notice to occur before the players' appearances on the pitch. Jeff Plush, the league's commissioner, was present at the game and told reporters that he was unaware of Lynch's plans and disagreed with the act of moving the anthem's performance. The Spirit's players issued a joint statement also disagreeing with Lynch's decision to move the anthem without first consulting the team's players or coaches. As a member of the U.S. women's national soccer team, Rapinoe also knelt before an international friendly match against

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) Union dropped him as a paid sponsor. Radio station WFAY dropped a broadcast of an East Carolina University football game on the station after the marching band took part in the protest, calling it an insult to the U.S. Armed Forces. John Schnatter of sponsor Papa John's Pizza blamed the protests for a drop in sales and a 24% fall in stock during 2017, saying that the "controversy is polarizing the customer, polarizing the country". Later that day, the company announced that the NFL shield or "official sponsor" designation on Papa John's commercials and advertising would be removed. In December

neg: U.S. national anthem protests teammates during the national anthem. George Shinn, owner of the Charlotte Hornets, threatened to trade any player who refused to stand. After his suspension, Abdul-Rauf stood, but with his head bowed in silent prayer. In 2003, two women's basketball players, Toni Smith of Manhattanville College and Deidra Chatman of the University of Virginia, made headlines for refusing to face the flag during the national anthem. Chatman, a Jehovah's Witness, protested for one game in March 2003 due to her anti-war views in light of the then-current tensions between the U.S. and Iraq. Smith, who had been boycotting the anthem all

neg: Homosexuality in American football Homosexuality in American football Few American football players have come out as gay. Six former National Football League (NFL) players have come out publicly after they retired. There has never been anyone who has been publicly out while playing in the NFL. Michael Sam was selected by the St. Louis Rams in 2014 NFL Draft, and became the first publicly gay player drafted in the league, but was released before the start of the regular season. He became the first publicly gay player to play in the Canadian Football League in August 2015. In college football, Division III player Conner

neg: U.S. national anthem protests Gesture", Smith stated that the gesture was not a "Black Power" salute, but a "human rights salute". The event is regarded as one of the most overtly political statements in the history of the modern Olympic Games. In 1969, University of Wyoming coach Lloyd Eaton dismissed 14 black football players who requested to wear black armbands to protest the racial slurs they faced during games, particularly against BYU. When the two teams played in 1971, about 50 students at UW refused to stand during the national anthem and wore black armbands during the game. Another place where African Americans refused

neg: Alan Page nine consecutive Pro Bowls. He was voted All-Conference 11 times, in 1968 and 1969 as All-Western Conference and in 1970 through 1977 and 1980 as an All-National Football Conference. In 1971 Page was named both the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (the first player to be named such) and the AP's NFL Most Valuable Player. Page was the first defensive player to be named MVP since the award's inception. Only one other defensive player, Lawrence Taylor, has ever received the award. Page was also voted the NEA NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1973. Page was National

neg: Mike Kenn Mike Kenn Michael Lee "Mike" Kenn (born February 9, 1956) is a former American football player who was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round (13th overall) of the 1978 NFL Draft. A 6'7", 275-lb. offensive tackle from the University of Michigan, Kenn played his entire 17-year National Football League (NFL) career with the Falcons from 1978 to 1994. He is notable for having started all 251 NFL games in which he played. He holds the Falcons' franchise record for games started and games played. He was selected as a first-team All-NFL player in 1980, 1983 and 1991

neg: Sports in Pennsylvania was home to some of the earliest moments in football history, and the earliest professional clubs played in the Western Pennsylvania Professional Football Circuit. William "Pudge" Heffelfinger was the first known professional football player, while John Brallier was the first openly professional player. The Allegheny Athletic Association fielded the first entirely openly professional team in 1896. In 1902, three Pennsylvania teams founded the National Football League (which has no ties to today's NFL), the first attempt at a national professional football league. Jim Thorpe, a multi-sport athlete who played in the NFL and won Olympic gold medals in the pentathlon

neg: Anthem of Europe qualifying of the 2018 FIFA World Cup football competition at the introduction of every match. "Ode to Joy", automatically orchestrated in seven different styles, has been used on 18 June 2015 during the ceremony celebrating the 5000th ERC grantee as anthem of the European Research Council to represent achievements of European research. In 2017, Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from the Scottish National Party first whistled and then sang "Ode to Joy" at the House of Commons to protest against the Brexit referendum. Due to the large number of languages used in the European Union, the anthem

neg: Albany Great Danes between the program and the National Football League. Rudy Vido, who graduated in 1974 as a fullback and defensive end, became the first player in school history to sign a contract with an NFL team. He was cut in the preseason by the New England Patriots, so he never played in the NFL. Vido was also signed by several Canadian Football League teams, but never played in the CFL either. In 2005, Kurt Campbell became the first player in the program's history to be drafted into the NFL. Campbell was selected in the seventh round by the Green Bay Packers.

neg: Mike Pence at Trump's request after members of the 49ers knelt during the national anthem. Shortly afterwards, Pence commented via Twitter, "President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem"; further adding, "While everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I don’t think its too much to ask NFL players to respect the flag and our national anthem." Pence was widely criticized by various people for what was considered a publicity stunt. Democratic Representative Adam Schiff (CA-28) questioned how much taxpayer's money was used to fund Pence's actions, and it was later

neg: National Football League player conduct policy violence policy, the NFL will be educating high school students about domestic violence. The person inside the NFL that is in charge on working on domestic violence and sexual assault issues is Anna Isaacson, who Roger Goodell named the first vice president of social responsibility on September 15, 2014. She has created new training sessions for every player and league employee as well as convincing the NFL to put in $10 million for domestic violence advertisements. She also constructed a partnership between the NFL and the National Domestic Violence Hotline to fund more resources to the various call centers. The

neg: Super Bowl XLI Sky Sports taking the main CBS commentary and ITV taking the NFL supplied international commentary feed of Spero Dedes and Sterling Sharpe. Super Bowl XLI was broadcast in over 200 countries. Amongst the television networks who broadcast Super Bowl XLI were: Before the game, Cirque du Soleil, Romero Britto and Little Louie Vega performed as the pre-game act, and Billy Joel sang the National Anthem, accompanying himself on piano. He also performed at Super Bowl XXIII, which was played at the same venue. Joel became the second person to sing the National Anthem twice for a Super Bowl; Aaron Neville

neg: Ellis Johnson (defensive lineman) in eighty-nine of them, and was responsible for 356 tackles. Ellis Johnson (defensive lineman) Ellis Bernard Johnson (born October 30, 1973) is an American former college and professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Johnson played college football for the University of Florida, and was recognized as the National Defensive Player of the Year. He was picked in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos of the NFL. Johnson was born in

neg: Ellis Johnson (defensive lineman) Ellis Johnson (defensive lineman) Ellis Bernard Johnson (born October 30, 1973) is an American former college and professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Johnson played college football for the University of Florida, and was recognized as the National Defensive Player of the Year. He was picked in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos of the NFL. Johnson was born in Wildwood, Florida in 1973. He attended Wildwood High School, where

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) interlocked arms. Jelani Jenkins, Arian Foster, Kenny Stills, and Michael Thomas of the Miami Dolphins all knelt during the National Anthem. At the same time, a group of Jacksonville Jaguars players, led by cornerback Prince Amukamara, initially planned to join the protest but chose not to do so after photographs of Kaepernick wearing socks with a crude anti-police message during training camp were made public. On November 13, 2016, 5 days after Donald Trump was elected President, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide-receiver Mike Evans decided to sit during the national anthem. According to "Sports Illustrated", Evans said, "If this happens, then

neg: U.S. national anthem protests was a violation of the First Amendment to the US Constitution. In November 1970, Kaye Stevens refused to sing the national anthem before a NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs, although she had sung the previous week when the Steelers played the New York Jets. She said she was protesting the Steelers planned expenditure of $37 million on the new Three Rivers Stadium when local officials were underfunding treatment for drug users. From 1968 onwards, Jimi Hendrix performed an instrumental version using feedback, distortion and other effects to deconstruct the music with the sonic images of

neg: 2016 All-Pro Team second-team selections, was chosen by a national panel of fifty NFL writers and broadcasters. For the first time, the nationwide panel of 60 sports writers and broadcasters who regularly cover the NFL voted for specific positions on the offensive line, a "flex" player on offense, a fifth defensive back, and a punt returner and special teamer. "The Sporting News" All-NFL team is voted on by NFL players and executives and will be released at a later date. The PFWA team is selected by its more than 300 national members who are accredited media members covering the NFL. AP = Associated

neg: Himno de Riego ¡Y el cuello le cortaremos!</poem> At the 2003 Davis Cup finals held in Australia, James Morrison performed "Himno de Riego" instead of Spain's current national anthem, the "Marcha Real" (Royal March). Australian tennis officials claimed there was an error on the CD provided to the musician, but Spanish sport authorities still issued an official protest. Himno de Riego The "Himno de Riego" ("Anthem of Riego") is a song dating from the Liberal Triennium and named in honour of Colonel Rafael del Riego, composed by José Melchor Gomis to words by . It was the national anthem of Spain during the

neg: Babanawa F.C. Gboko and Makurdi before returning to Kogi State for the 2007 season. They withdrew from the League in the 2011 season after not making their first three games. Babanawa F.C. Babanawa FC was a Nigerian National Division One football club, based in Anyigba, Kogi State and play their home games in Lokoja. They were owned by Col. Ahmadu Usman Suleiman (rtd), making them one of the few Nigerian teams not run by a state government. In 2003, they were relegated to the amateur league under "suspicious" circumstances involving player ineligibility, and took the NFL to court to protest, ultimately losing.

neg: National anthem of the Korean Empire National anthem of the Korean Empire The "Patriotic Hymn of the Great Korean Empire" (; ) was the national anthem of the Korean Empire, used during the early 20th century. It was the first national anthem of a unified Korean state. The national anthem was first commissioned by Emperor Gojong in 1901 and presented to the Korean court on 1 July 1902, by German composer Franz Eckert, who was the director of the Korean Empire's military band at the time. It was published in Germany in five different languages (Korean, German, English, Chinese, and French) and performed for the first

neg: State Anthem of Turkmenistan of the Monument to the Constitution. On that day, the Turkmen national anthem was played. State Anthem of Turkmenistan The "State Anthem of Turkmenistan", also known as the "National Anthem of Independent Neutral Turkmenistan" (), was adopted as the national anthem of Turkmenistan in 1996, then again with modified lyrics in 2008. The music was composed by Turkmenistani composer Veli Mukhatov, who also composed the music of the former Turkmen SSR anthem. The lyrics were originally written by the first president of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov (also known as Turkmenbashi), who died on 21 December 2006. Two years after his death,

neg: Homosexuality in American football 2012. <nowiki>*</nowiki> Posthumously outed Homosexuality in American football Few American football players have come out as gay. Six former National Football League (NFL) players have come out publicly after they retired. There has never been anyone who has been publicly out while playing in the NFL. Michael Sam was selected by the St. Louis Rams in 2014 NFL Draft, and became the first publicly gay player drafted in the league, but was released before the start of the regular season. He became the first publicly gay player to play in the Canadian Football League in August 2015. In college football,

neg: Cadets of the Republic appeal or any time to arrange an alternate venue, the permits were abruptly withdrawn just before the protest was scheduled to begin. Tomas López de Victoria, who at the time was the Captain of the Ponce branch of the cadets, ordered the band to play La Borinqueña, Puerto Rico's national anthem. As the anthem was being played, the demonstrators—which included the Cadets and the women's branch of the Nationalist Party known as the "Hijas de la Libertad" (Daughters of Freedom)—began to march. Empowered by the American police chief, and encouraged by the governor, the police fired for over fifteen minutes

neg: U.S. national anthem protests (2016–present) in 1996. The National Anthem provides our clubs and fans an important and time-honored opportunity to salute our country and stand up for its principles -- whether in the United States or in Canada." MLS to date, has yet to encounter national anthem protests. The protest had supporters outside the U.S. as well: In an October 2017 match against Schalke 04, players and staff of German football club Hertha BSC took the knee in solidarity. Herta BSC has a few American players on their roster. On September 7, 2016, three volleyball players from West Virginia Tech knelt during the national