White Olympic fencer Race Imboden, 26, took a knee while the US national anthem was played during a gold medal ceremony at the Pan American Games in Peru
White Olympic fencer Race Imboden took a knee while the US national anthem was played during a gold medal ceremony at the Pan American Games, in protest of the ‘multiple shortcomings of the country I hold so dear to my heart.’
‘Racism, gun control, mistreatment of immigrants and a president who spreads hate,’ the 26-year-old athlete tweeted Friday from the Games in Peru.
Imboden described his grievances being at ‘the top of a long list.’
He wasn’t alone in protest this weekend.
Gwen Berry, a black Olympic hammer thrower also raised her fist during the national anthem at the games on Saturday.
Both face possible repercussions, according to a spokesman for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
‘Every athlete competing at the 2019 Pan American Games commits to terms of eligibility, including to refrain from demonstrations that are political in nature. In these cases, the athletes didn’t adhere to the commitment they made to the organizing committee and the USOPC, ‘the spokesman,’ Mark Jones told the Daily Mail.
‘We respect their rights to express their viewpoints, but we are disappointed that they chose not to honor their commitment. Our leadership are reviewing what consequences may result.’
After taking a knee as the national anthem was played during gold medal ceremony at the Pan American Games in Peru on Friday, white US Olympic fencer Race Imboden (kneeling above) Tweeted his reasons for the protest
White US Olympic fencer Race Imbode (kneeling above) after he took a knee during a gold medal ceremony Tweeted later that ‘Racism, gun control, mistreatment of immigrants,’ were among the grievances at ‘the top of a long list’ he was protesting
White US Olympic fencer Race Imboden (left), pictured with Gustavo Alarcon of Chile in the men’s foil competition, also Tweeted that he was protesting ‘a president who spreads hate,’ without naming President Donald Trump specifically
Taking a knee during the national anthem was originally a protest made predominantly by black athletes taking a stand against racial injustice and police brutality.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers, who is black, was first to do so during the national anthem before a 2016 game, sparking outcry from the National Football League and critics, including President Trump.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (center) of the San Francisco 49ers was first to take a knee during the national anthem before a 2016 game, sparking outcry from the National Football League and critics, including President Trump
Cleveland Browns tight end Seth DeValve is believed to be the first white NFL player to take a knee
American professional soccer player and World Cup champion Megan Rapinoe took knee before a game against the Netherlands in 2016
Several players continued with the protests, including Cleveland Browns tight end Seth DeValve, believed to be the first white NFL player to take a knee.
Even the entire Dallas Cowboys football team, along with owner Jerry Jones, took a knee during the national anthem before a game in 2017.
Other protesters include white American professional soccer player and World Cup champion Megan Rapinoe, who took knee before a game against the Netherlands in 2016.
Former Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell, who is white, took a knee before a game against the Seattle Mariners in 2017 in direct response to comments made by President Trump, who complained football franchises should fire any player who knelt during the national anthem.
The symbolism of taking a knee has since been broadened by some athletes as a form of demanding all forms of social justice.
Imboden, who previously took a knee along with teammate Miles Chamley-Watson, throughout the ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,’ at a World Cup event in Egypt in 2017, according to NBC, said me his latest protest was meant ‘to call attention to issues that I believe need to be addressed.’
‘I encourage others to please use your platforms for empowerment and change.’