Hillary-Supporting U.S. Soccer Player Megan Rapinoe Protests Anthem — in National Uniform

Hillary Clinton and Megan Rapinoe (Mark von Holden / Associated Press)
Mark von Holden / Associated Press
Joel B. Pollak

Women’s soccer player Megan Rapinoe continued her protest against the national anthem on Thursday evening — this time, wearing the official uniform of the United States Women’s National Team.

Rapinoe knelt before a match against Thailand in Columbus, Ohio.

Previously, Rapinoe had knelt in protest before a game for Seattle Reign FC, her team in the National Women’s Soccer League. Thursday night marks the first time in the recent, Black Lives Matter-inspired protests that a U.S. athlete has protested the Star-Spangled Banner while wearing national colors.

The 31-year-old Rapinoe, who plays left wing and midfield, is one of several professional athletes to follow the example of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who kicked off the anthem protests in August. She joined his protest Sep. 4, taking a knee before a professional match.

As Breitbart News’ Daniel Flynn reported:

U.S. Women’s National Team member Megan Rapinoe refused to stand during the national anthem before a Seattle Reign game against the Chicago Red Stars in Illinois. The teams played to a 2-2 stalemate. Just over 3,000 people attended the match.

“It was very intentional,” Rapinoe told American Soccer Now. “It was a little nod to [Colin] Kaepernick and everything that he’s standing for right now. I think it’s actually pretty disgusting the way he was treated and the way that a lot of the media has covered it and made it about something that it absolutely isn’t. We need to have a more thoughtful, two-sided conversation about racial issues in this country.”

Rapinoe, who is white, is a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement, which seeks to draw attention to alleged police brutality against black Americans. The movement has also been associated with rioting, arson, attacks on police, and antisemitism.

Earlier this year, Rapinoe endorsed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, joining her for a roundtable discussion on pay equality.

“To be a woman in this man’s world of politics and to be able to fight her way to the top — I think that’s one of the issues she’s bringing with her,” Rapinoe said of Clinton, according to Fox Business.

The U.S. Women’s National Team, which live-tweeted the match, had no immediate reaction to Rapinoe’s protest.

Update: U.S. Soccer released a statement critical of Rapinoe: “As part of the privilege to represent your country, we have an expectation that our players and coaches will stand and honor our flag while the national anthem is played.”

Last week, USA Hockey coach M John Tortorella warned that any players who remained on the bench during the national anthem would stay there for the game.

Rapinoe did not start the game against Thailand.

Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News. His new book, See No Evil: 19 Hard Truths the Left Can’t Handle, is available from Regnery through Amazon. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.

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