US1 min(s) read
Published 16:27 14 Jun 2020 GMT
President Trump has reaffirmed his stance on players kneeling during the national anthem and has tweeted to say that he "won't be watching" the NFL.
Trump took to Twitter to react to the NFL and the U.S. Soccer Federation's recent change of stance on kneeling following the death of George Floyd after he was arrested by Minneapolis police officers.
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Writing on Twitter earlier this month, the NFL said:
"We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter. #InspireChange"
U.S. Soccer - the organization that oversees the U.S. men's and women's teams that compete in various events, including the Olympics - also recently changed its policy which required players to stand during the playing of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' before matches.
The U.S. Soccer policy reversal was accompanied by a video from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, which apologized to black players and fans.
Watch the video below:
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President Trump described what happened to Floyd as "a very sad and tragic death," but he hasn't changed his stance about players kneeling during the national anthem in protest.
"I won't be watching much anymore!" the president wrote on Twitter, retweeting a news story about U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., calling out U.S. Soccer on reversing its policy.
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Gaetz tweeted that he'd "rather the US not have a soccer team" than one that kneels during the national anthem on Thursday.
"You shouldn't get to play under our flag as our national team if you won't stand when it is raised," Gaetz added.
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The original ban on kneeling during the national anthem was implemented in 2017 when women's team player Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem in support of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who began the practice back in 2016 to protest police brutality.
This comes as unrest continues to unfold across the US, as protests - some peaceful, some violent - are calling out the systemic injustices carried out against black people, not least seen by the recent deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.
As well as a call for justice, these ongoing protests are also demanding an end to police brutality and the racism that is so deeply entrenched in America and the western world.
The message is simple: Black lives matter.
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