UPDATE: US Women's Team Denies Claims They Protested Anthem
UPDATE (7/7/21 @ 4:03PM EST): THE US WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM RELEASED A STATEMENT CLAIMING THEY TURNED DURING THE ANTHEM TO FACE THE US FLAG, NOT TO PROTEST THE ANTHEM OR THE VETERAN PLAYING THE HARMONICA. WATCH THE VIDEO AND MAKE YOUR OWN JUDGEMENT.
Video footage went viral Monday afternoon focusing on US Women’s National Soccer Team members who appeared to turn their backs on WW2 veteran Pete Dupre while he played the national anthem on his harmonica. The USWT denied that claim.
Conservatives instantly began calling for punishments and boycotts against the anti-American soccer team,
The US Women’s soccer team, especially Megan Rapinoe, has a history of making political statements rather than simply playing their sport with class and respect.
The 2021 Olympics is already shaping up to be an extremely political and controversial event with transgender female participants competing for the first time, anti-American hammer throwers going unpunished, and the world’s fastest female sprinter being suspended for THC.
UPDATE (7/7/21 @ 4:03PM EST): The US Women’s National Team released a statement claiming they turned during the anthem to face the US Flag, not to protest the Anthem or the veteran playing the harmonica. Watch the video and make your own judgement.