National Anthem Protest Makes Its Way to Hockey
 

(Newser) - The sports world's racial justice protests that started a year ago when former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernik started kneeling during the "Star-Spangled Banner" have come at last to professional hockey. On Saturday night, J.T. Brown, a forward with the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning, kept his right fist raised during the playing of the national anthem before his team's first away game of the season, CBC reports. Brown, who is one of approximately 30 black players in the NHL, says he wanted to show support for the cause even though he's aware he's courting criticism. "I know there's going to be negative backlash, but in my heart I know I did what was right," Brown says.

ESPN reports that Brown's demonstration was the first-ever during a national anthem in the NHL. Unlike other professional sports, the league has no rules governing behavior during the national anthem, and Brown's team issued a statement of support after Saturday night's game: "The Tampa Bay Lightning celebrate the moment before every game when we can unite as a community . At the same time, we respect our players and individual choices they may make on social and political issues." After President Trump called for football players who don't stand for the anthem to be fired in late September, teams across the NFL performed demonstrations before their games that weekend. Brown is the son of Ted Brown, a former running back with the Minnesota Vikings.

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Who cares

Pence walked out like a little bitch during the NFL game between the Colts & 49ers today, because some players nelt during the anthem.

"I left today's Colts game because @POTUS and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem."

Stupid little bitch

you!!! :1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

And 1 million people enjoyed the game just fine without him.

:thumbsup

This will spread to all sports.

Except for maybe baseball. They are mostly pussies.

Yeah bad move in the part of Pence IMO fucking little bitch. Trying to make a stadium of people feel like losers as if he has "higher morals" for leaving :1orglaugh

When people criticize the kneeling protesters without saying something about police brutality,
what they are truly saying is that Black people don't matter and "who gives a shit if they die".

But rather than being bold enough to just say "fuck niggaz" they talk about the flag and the anthem.

Conservatives rant about the "PC world", but when the anthem plays, all they want is a PC world to stand with their hand on their imaginary heart like brainwashed zombies.

:1orglaugh

Pence left to go-to his safe space because freedom of expression scares him :2 cents:

Pence protested the protesters by leaving during the anthem as they knelt during the anthem. Stupid little bitch

Of all things to bring focus to the Trump administration is focusing on kneeling during the anthem. So shallow

Of all the things to bring focus to while blacks are gunning down blacks, players are focusing on Dindu Nuffins getting shot by the cops.

^^^ From the guy who thinks PizzaGate is real and the crowd security guard in Vegas was a second shooter. :disgust

NFL just became least favorite sport of all pro and college sports so it's working well for them I guess.

Don't worry about it, I'll kneel for you. ;)

As for Pence leaving the game, that's actually OK. He is protesting the protesters, and he's allowed to do that. If on the other hand he left because Trump told him to leave, then that's pretty weak.

I wonder what would have happened if TRUMP was at the game and TRUMP would have walked out? Some readhats might follow him but I think most others would just enjoy the game, protests or not.

Oh please give it a rest with the black victimization. Cops shot 3 times as many white people as they did blacks. Take a stand for something that actually has a real body count in the black community.

Even though you may not agree with them, they have the right to free speech and that should be applauded.

next stop 22th in nba season