Scientists, doctors and celebrities have joined the #TakeAKnee protest as the NFL demonstration continues to sweep across the country.
Sports and politics merged over the course of the last few days after President Donald Trump publicly denounced players who kneel during the national anthem as a sign of protest.
But that hasn’t stopped activists from all walks of life joining the protest movement.
Scientists, doctors and celebrities have joined the #TakeAKnee protest as the NFL demonstration continues to sweep across the country. Neurobiologists from Veenema Lab at Michigan State University (pictured) posted a photo of themselves kneeling in their lab coats
Karen James said on Twitter: ‘#ScientistsTakeaKnee with Sierra Club volunteers to affirm that Black Live Matter’
TV producer and screenwriter Shonda Rhimes posted a photo along with the cast of her show Grey’s Anatomy. She said: ‘We took a knee in solidarity of racial justice’
Neurobiologists from Veenema Lab at Michigan State University posted a photo of themselves kneeling in their lab coats saying: ‘We are joining #ScientistsTakeAKnee because we stand against racism and believe in equal life chances for all.’
Neuroscientist Theanne Griffith, from Columbia University in New York, added: ‘Taking a knee to stand against systematic racism. And to remind those who forget science is plagued by racism, too.’
Becky Rodriguez, a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota, wrote online: ‘We are unapologetic. #ScientistsTakeAKnee in solidarity with the Black community against police brutality.’
Lily Cohen posted a photo of her team studying snow, permafrost and long term weather patterns in Alaska. She said: ‘#ScientistsTakeAKnee in the Arctic in solidarity with folks who take a knee against racial injustice.’
Sports and politics merged over the course of the last few days after President Donald Trump publicly denounced players who kneel during the national anthem as a sign of protest. Pictured, scientists from the disease ecology lab at San Francisco State University
Black-ish actress Tracee Ellis Ross (left) joined the cause saying: ‘I toggle btw outrage & fear, and I try to bridge them with action & community. I’m so honored to join in solidarity w/those who #TakeAKnee.’ And Eugene Gu, MD,(right) a surgeon in Redwood City, California, said: ‘I’m an Asian-American doctor and today I #TakeAKnee to fight white supremacy.’
Lily Cohen posted a photo of her team studying snow, permafrost and long term weather patterns in Alaska. She said: ‘#ScientistsTakeAKnee in the Arctic in solidarity with folks who take a knee against racial injustice’
And Eugene Gu, MD, a surgeon in Redwood City, California, said: ‘I’m an Asian-American doctor and today I #TakeAKnee to fight white supremacy.’
Meanwhile, Black-ish actress Tracee Ellis Ross joined the cause saying: ‘I toggle btw outrage & fear, and I try to bridge them with action & community. I’m so honored to join in solidarity w/those who #TakeAKnee.’
TV producer and screenwriter Shonda Rhimes posted a photo along with the cast of her show Grey’s Anatomy. She said: ‘We took a knee in solidarity of racial justice.’
Other celebrities who have joined the protest movement include John Legend, Stevie Wonder and Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny on the set of the X-Files.
Becky Rodriguez, a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota (pictured), wrote online: ‘We are unapologetic. #ScientistsTakeAKnee in solidarity with the Black community against police brutality’
Georgetown Law Professor posted this photo of students and faculty protesting Attorney General Jeff Session’s visit to the campus
Isabel Warner, from Davis, California, posted this photo of staff protesting in the laboratory
Neuroscientist Theanne Griffith (pictured), from Columbia University in New York, added: ‘Taking a knee to stand against systematic racism. And to remind those who forget science is plagued by racism, too’
Earlier, a 97-year-old Second World War veteran even took a knee to show his support to the NFL players protesting during the national anthem.
Brennan Gilmore posted a Twitter picture Sunday morning of his grandfather, John Middlemas, kneeling while wearing a veteran’s cap.
Bill Russell, one of the all-time greats of professional basketball, also took a knee Monday in a gesture of solidarity with the athletes.
The movement sprouted from President Donald Trump’s outburst during a rally in Huntsville, Alabama Friday.
In the rally, Trump referenced the growing trend of players taking a knee during the national anthem, which first began in 2016 by ex-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in a statement aimed against police brutality.
Bill Russell, one of the all-time greats of professional basketball, took a knee Monday in a gesture of solidarity with athletes protesting social injustice while wearing his Presidential Medal of Freedom
World War II veteran John Middlemas (pictured) , 97, shows solidarity with NFL players by taking knee
‘#TakeAKnee’ Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny took a knee in support of NFL players and others protesting racial injustice on Monday
Power: John Legend knelt in solidarity at a European concert date, also raising a fist to the air
The origins: The protest against racial injustice was sparked by San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick (above with teammate Eric Reid in 2016) since expanding throughout the NFL
The ex-Celebrity Apprentice host said Friday, ‘Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, you’d say, “Get that son of a b—h off the field right now. Out! He’s fired!”‘
The remarks led to a frenzy of reaction during Sunday’s games, resulting in an estimated 200 players either kneeling, sitting or gesturing with their firsts amid the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner prior to the games.
As an alternative, some players remained in the locker room while others locked their arms with their teammates to display unity.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Police Department is investigating a photo of two uniformed officers photographed ‘taking a knee’ following sideline demonstrations against police brutality by players in the NFL.
Two African-American officers in a South Side precinct in Chicago, Illinois, can be seen kneeling with activist Aleta Clark in a picture she posted on Instagram on Sunday.
Simple as that: Orange Is The New Black’s Uzo Aduba took a knee in front of a beautiful painting by artist Laolu Senbanjo, captioning the picture ‘It’s that easy’
In solidarity: At Sunday’s Concert For Charlottesville singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder made a statement during his surprise appearance at the University Of Virginia benefit
Making a statement: Like Stevie, Pharrell also took a knee at the concert. The 44-year-old star – who hails from Virginia – said he was doing it in solidarity with his home state