A Paralympian and military veteran was removed from the U.S. Soccer Federation’s Athlete Council after delivering remarks against kneeling during the national anthem.
“I will never apologize for the statements I made, and will never bow down to the mob mentality of intimidation, bullying or the social media warrior’s gestapo tactics. I’m embarrassed to represent a hypocritical federation that conducts a complete assault on diversity of thought without even seeking clarifying statements from me in their smear campaign. I’m embarrassed at the cowardice of so-called friends who bent over to the mob, knowing very well the quality of my character, in order to preserve their own image,” Seth Jahn wrote in response to him being booted off the council and criticisms he received over a speech supporting standing for the national anthem.
U.S. Soccer’s council voted on Saturday to repeal a rule mandating that players stand for the national anthem. Jahn, an Army combat veteran, delivered remarks ahead of the vote that slammed sports being politicized in recent months, as well as speaking out against those who kneel during the anthem.
“I’m sure I’m going to ruffle some feathers with what I’m about to say, especially given the athletes council that I’m on, but given the evolution of our quote-unquote progressive culture, where everything offends everybody, those willing to take a knee for our anthem don’t care about offending half of our country when they do so, then I don’t have too much concern in also exercising my First Amendment right,” Jahn said in his remarks.
US SOCCER REPEALS POLICY REQUIRING PLAYERS TO STAND FOR NATIONAL ANTHEM
He went on to say that “every race in the history of mankind has been enslaved by another demographic at some point time. Blacks have been enslaved. Hispanics have been enslaved. Asians most recently in our country in the freaking 20th century, have been enslaved.” He added, “Shoot, I lived in Africa for two and a half years, where I could purchase people, slaves, between the price of $300 and $800 per person, per head, depending on their age, health, and physicality.”
“Where were the social justice warriors and the news journalists there to bring their ruminations to these real atrocities?”
Jahn’s comments were met with condemnation, and he was removed from the council, which said he “violated the prohibited conduct’s policy section on harassment, which prohibits racial or other harassment based upon a person’s protected status (race).”
He doubled down on his comments on Sunday, saying, “Nothing I said was racist,” and revealed he’s received numerous death threats since his remarks.
“The overwhelmingly (sic) support I received from a number of people within the federation compared to the 30+ death threats I received from the insignificant rabid key board warriors was appreciated, but I implore you to speak publicly in your support in the future for those bold enough to challenge the status quo and not just privately,” he wrote.
He also said that he wanted to “clarify” his remarks on slavery.
“I stated that a small percentage of people in our country are responsible for the terrors of slavery hundreds of years ago, of which 400,000+ men died to abolish under our nation’s flag, I was in no way minimizing the horrors of slavery, I was simply illuminating the misplaced rage and squandered opportunities to bring to light the tens of millions of people who are enslaved TODAY … more so than any point in history. Persecuted people who I readily put my life on the line to recover from the predacious dregs who prey on them. I welcome any and all respectful debates void of emotion, and will gladly have an open dialogue publicly within (sic) anyone who was brace enough to place unwarranted labels on me from the safety of their mobile device,” he wrote.
My apology letter: pic.twitter.com/QLaHhjXDfn
— Seth Jahn (@SJahnIX) February 28, 2021
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Jahn was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan three times and was injured in 2010. In 2014, he began training with the U.S. Paralympics National Soccer Team.
Kneeling during the national anthem first made waves in the sports world when former NFL player Colin Kaepernick knelt in 2016 to protest police brutality and systemic racism. In 2020, the act of protest was reignited following the death of George Floyd, with leagues across the sports spectrum showing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and against systemic racism.
