Athletes Are Finally Taking A Stand (Or A Knee) Against Trump’s America
Trump is truly one of the most polarizing political figures in recent history, and it’s starting to show — even sports are becoming political.
Ever since Colin Kaepernick decided to kneel during the National Anthem last football season to protest Trump and show support for the Black Lives Matter movement, hundreds of other NFL players have taken his lead, becoming one of the largest — and most controversial — political statements in football’s history.
No one is protesting the flag, you disingenuous goofball. They're protesting inequality, police brutality, and racism. https://t.co/GlIahhseaI
— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) September 24, 2017
Seriously, even singers of the National Anthem have started kneeling during their own renditions of the song in solidarity.
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/912001508744601600
But football isn’t the only sport that’s taken a stance against the hateful rhetoric that our president has fostered in the U.S. Now NBA players have voiced their opinions as well — and trust me, Trump is pissed.
After the Golden State Warriors won the NBA finals, Trump extended an invitation to the White house to the team, as per tradition. The only problem is, the Golden State Warriors weren’t sure if they wanted to visit, with leading man Steph Curry making his personal opinion blatantly obvious.
Stephen Curry pretty forceful on his thoughts about Trump and possible White House visit pic.twitter.com/Ubj6V91EsL
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) September 22, 2017
Curry said he hoped that deciding not to go will hopefully “inspire some change when it comes to what we tolerate in this country and what is accepted and what we turn a blind eye to.”
Trump’s response? To immediately withdraw the invitation.
Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
Naturally, the whole thing felt pretty dumb, considering Trump was basically withdrawing an invitation that had already been declined. Even LeBron James, one of Curry’s main rivals on the court, had to speak up about it.
U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain't going! So therefore ain't no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 23, 2017
Seriously, Trump, you are fooling NO ONE.
You can't be uninvited to something you weren't going to anyway pic.twitter.com/oZVmDn5ClH
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 23, 2017
steph curry:
trump: Ok fineLMFAO. Don’t come like Honestly didn’t want u to come anyway like Idk why i even bothered asking and also u smel
— hi (@Chainbody) September 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/lowkeyclutch/status/911632323589816321
Seriously, the Golden State Warriors weren’t too phased. In fact, they released this statement that they’d still be going to DC — but this time, they’d be there celebrating equality.
Statement from the Golden State Warriors: pic.twitter.com/6kk6ofdu9X
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) September 23, 2017
People can argue that there’s no room for politics in sports, but I disagree. At the end of the day, we’re all citizens of this nation — why not use what public forums we have to speak our minds and spark change? And if you want to fight me on that, then you’d better not support Tomi Lahren or Kid Rock, either.