The United States women’s national soccer team took part in a social justice protest during pregame warmups in the Netherlands on Friday.
The team walked out of the locker room wearing outfits emblazoned with “Black Lives Matter,” and almost every member of the team took a knee for the national anthem, according to ESPN.
“We love our country, and it is a true honor to represent America,” the team said in a statement before the game. “It is also our duty to demand that the liberties and freedoms that our country was founded on extend to everyone.”
We wear Black Lives Matter to affirm human decency. This is not political, it’s a statement on human rights. pic.twitter.com/QHDAx4iv7k
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) November 27, 2020
The match was the team’s first since the death of George Floyd on May 25 due to a stoppage in play caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The team defeated the Dutch national team by a score of 2-0, with goals from Rose Lavelle and Kristie Mewis.
Earlier this week, President Trump criticized two NFL quarterbacks for kneeling during the national anthem before a game on Thanksgiving, tweeting to his followers, “No thanks!”
No thanks! https://t.co/IYQSotnMG9
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2020
