Retired USA Men's National Team player and FOX Sports analyst Alexi Lalas is coming under fire for recent comments regarding players kneeling during the national anthem. Lalas says it takes more courage to stand during the anthem.
Lalas posted a tweet reading, "Now it takes courage to actually stand for the national anthem."
"No it does not," a Twitter user responded. "I stand for the national anthem knowing that those kneeling are taking the brunt of hate. I stand knowing that I’m not being judged, even by those kneeling. Standing is still the norm and isn’t shunned."
"That’s actually the whole point," Lalas replied. "Before game today, standing for the anthem was not the norm. Almost every single player knelt during the anthem in solidarity. Those kneeling during the anthem were not taking the brunt of hate."
Lalas' tweets were posted after the NWSL Challenge Cup kick-off, during which, both the Portland Thorns and North Carolina Courage kneeled to protest racial injustice.
"We took a knee today to protest racial injustice, police brutality, and systemic racism against Black people and people of color in America," the Thorns and Courage players said in a joint statement. "We love our country and we have taken this opportunity to hold it to a higher standard. It is our duty to demand that the liberties and freedoms that this nation was founded upon are extended to everyone."
[Via]