The political divide in the United States now has a new theatre for expression, its sports arenas. The nationalist rhetoric of President Donald Trump, which has often been deemed racist, has come into conflict with the anti-racism protests of many sportspersons in the country's premier sports leagues.
During the course of a speech endorsing Alabama senator Luther Johnson Strange III, Trump launched a broadside against 'athletes who used their position of influence in the country's money-spinning sports leagues, to reopen the debate on race.' Here is how it panned out.
How did it start?
In a pre-season game 13 months ago, Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback who was formerly contracted to the National Football League (NFL) team San Francisco 49ers, knelt during the national anthem to protest the unjustified killing of black men by law enforcement. Kaepernick's unique protest proved to be a harbinger for a larger movement with other athletes also taking to the field to express dissatisfaction with the lack of probity within public institutions.
What did Trump say?
After assuming office, the President has made many contentious and unpopular proclamations, often delivered in unparliamentary language. Speaking to a crowd in Huntsville, Alabama, Trump described the kneeling players as traitors for disrespecting the national anthem. He also castigated owners for not putting aside pecuniary considerations and reining in the players.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag to say, ‘Get that son of a b***h off the field right now, out. He’s fired. He’s fired!” said Trump.
He also called on fans to boycott games till club managements took action against protesting players, who are mostly black. Seeking to distance himself from the insinuation that he was stoking racial tension, Trump said that the matter was one of disrespecting the nation, and was entirely divorced from race.
Who else has expressed solidarity?
Twitterati took to the airwaves against the President's disparaging remarks on the protesting athletes, with the hashtag #TakeAKnee trending in the United States. Bruce Maxwell, of the Oakland Athletics, became the first MLB player to kneel down during the national anthem. Multiple Grammy awardee Stevie Wonder, who has for long been a proponent of the civil rights movement, also knelt down before a performance in New York and said a prayer for “our planet, our future, our leaders of our world”.
The NBA national conference champions, the Golden State Warriors, had an invitation to visit the White House withdrawn after the team's star player, Stephen Curry was singled out by Trump on Twitter for "hesitating" in accepting the invitation, which has historically been extended to victorious sports teams. Curry had openly opposed the visit.
In a carefully worded statement, the Golden State Warriors, declared that they were “disappointed” they would not have the opportunity to “share our views” on “issues impacting our communities.” The team is instead planning to “celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion” when it tours Washington.
Trump's statement that athletes were using sport as a platform to further their political ideologies has not gone down well with prominent basketball players. LeBron James and Chris Paul were quick to add ripostes of their own against Trump's divisive politics.
The NFL Players Association also publicly denounced Trump's remarks, adding that as individuals, their identity extended beyond their call of duty, and that intimidation would not silence their freedom of expression.
