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The National Women’s Soccer League is the first professional sports league in the United States to return to action, and players made a powerful statement before the first match between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage on Saturday.<\/p>\n
During the national anthem, all players from both sides took a knee to protest racial inequality, systemic racism and police brutality while wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts and armbands.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
After they knelt, both teams released a joint statement via social media explaining why they knelt during the national anthem. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
U.S. Soccer reversed its decision on kneeling during the national anthem in a board meeting earlier this month as members voted in favor of repealing the anthem policy. However, the vote is believed to not have been unanimous.<\/p>\n
In 2017, the U.S. Soccer Federation decided to enact a policy that forced players from both U.S. squads to stand during the national anthem after USWNT star Megan Rapinoe took a knee<\/a> in solidarity with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and his protest against racial injustice and police brutality.<\/p>\n A majority of Americans (52 percent) now support the right for NFL players to take a knee during the national anthem, according to a poll conducted by Yahoo Sports and YouGov<\/a>. So it seems they would feel the same toward U.S. Soccer players. In 2018, only 35 percent of people were OK with players taking a knee, Yahoo added.<\/p>\n U.S. Soccer’s decision comes after the death of George Floyd and the racial injustice protests that have swept the nation as a result.<\/p>\n The Challenge Cup runs through the end of next month, and it appears all players will be kneeling before every match to protest racial inequality. The Thorns-Courage game will be followed up by a match between the Chicago Red Stars and Washington Spirit on Saturday afternoon. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Tags:<\/b> Erin Walsh<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"See Campaign: <\/strong>https:\/\/soccer.nbcsports.com\/2017\/03\/06\/rapinoe-says-she-will-respect-u-s-soccer-anthem-policy\/<\/a>
Contact Information:<\/b>
Erin Walsh<\/p>\n
<\/a>, Wire<\/a>, United States<\/a>, English<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nContact Information:<\/h3>\n
Thorns and Courage players took a knee during the playing of the national anthem. Chris Nicoll-USA The National Women’s Soccer League is the first professional sports league in the United States to return to action, and players made a powerful statement before the first match between the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage on Saturday. During … Continue reading Courage, Thorns kneel during national anthem ahead of NWSL Challenge Cup opener<\/span><\/a> Continue Reading