Meghan Linsey ‘Takes a Knee’ After Singing National Anthem at Tennessee Titans Game [WATCH]
#Seahawks vs #Titans National anthem singer Meghan Linsey took a knee along with her guitar player
— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) September 24, 2017
Meghan Linsey performed the National Anthem at Sunday's (Sept. 24) Tennessee Titans vs. Seattle Seahawks game and, at the end of her performance, knelt in solidarity with protesting NFL players. Readers can press play above to see the moment.
During Sunday's NFL games, numerous players and teams performed gestures of protest as "The Star-Spangled Banner" was sung prior to kickoff. They were responding to comments by President Donald Trump, made on Friday (Sept. 22) at a campaign rally for Alabama Sen. Luther Strange and on Twitter on Saturday (Sept. 23), about players such as former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick choosing to kneel during the National Anthem in order to protest racial inequality in the United States.
"Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, say, ‘Get that son of a b---h off the field right now. Out, you’re fired!’" Trump said during the event on Friday. On Saturday, via Twitter, he added, "If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL, or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU'RE FIRED. Find something else to do!"
A number of NFL teams have released statements condemning Trump's comments or otherwise shown their disapproval for what he said. Both the Titans and the Seahawks chose to remain in the locker room as Linsey sang the Anthem before Sunday's game.
"As a team, we wanted to be unified in our actions today. The players jointly decided this was the best course of action," the Titans say in a statement of the decision. "Our commitment to the military and our community is resolute, and the absence of our team for the National Anthem shouldn't be misconstrued as unpatriotic."
On Twitter and during a Sunday press conference, Trump has continued to defend his statements.
Linsey -- formerly one-half of the country duo Steel Magnolia, now a solo artist -- was one of two National Anthem singers to kneel following their performances on Sunday. At the Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons game, R&B / soul artist Rico Lavelle ended his performance by taking a knee as well.
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