The New York Giants’ Olivier Vernon took a knee for the U.S. national anthem on Thursday night in a game against the Washington Redskins.
Vernon, a defensive end, has consistently not stood for the anthem before games.
He was shown on NBC cameras on Thanksgiving night doing a silent protest.
Some fans pilloried Vernon, 27, for the move on social media
On #Thanksgiving dude? While the Anthem is sung by a Master Sergeant of the United States Army to honor the United States of America ? Disgusting and dispicable. Turning off the game #NFL pic.twitter.com/LtzvPm4Yt4
— Scott Levy (@FuelOnline) November 24, 2017
#Giants Olivier Vernon too pathetic to stand for the National Anthem. #NYGvsWAS #Redskins #NFL #football
— Matt Soleyn (@MattSoleyn) November 24, 2017
Giants defensive end Olivier Vernon kneels on Thanksgiving night. Vernon's father is a retired police officer, and he's been kneeling for the anthem since Trump's comments in September. pic.twitter.com/zxrepNbg1W
— J.D. Durkin (@jiveDurkey) November 24, 2017
Shame on you @oliviervernon54. Stand and respect your country. . #NYGvsWAS
— Jake (@bigbluejb) November 24, 2017
Earlier this season, he attempted to explain his reasoning for the protest.
“What it would take for me to stand is if people can understand what the whole message is behind it,” he told Newsday. “That would actually help a whole lot, but everybody doesn’t see things that way and tries to distort what the message was from the beginning, which is basically social injustice on African-Americans and police brutality.”
President Donald Trump has been the most vocal opponent of the protests, saying that they have turned off fans.
Marshawn Lynch of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders stands for the Mexican Anthem and sits down to boos for our National Anthem. Great disrespect! Next time NFL should suspend him for remainder of season. Attendance and ratings way down.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2017
“The NFL is now thinking about a new idea — keeping teams in the Locker Room during the National Anthem next season,” Trump tweeted Wednesday. “That’s almost as bad as kneeling! When will the highly paid Commissioner finally get tough and smart? This issue is killing your league!”
He’s referring to a new report from The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, that said league executives are considering doing away with having players and coaches stand out on the field during the anthem. That was implemented in 2009.
Earlier in the week, Trump slammed Oakland Raiders player Marshawn Lynch for sitting for the national anthem while standing for the Mexican national anthem during a game in Mexico City against the New England Patriots. A few other players around the league have persisted in protesting, but free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick is credited with starting the movement, saying it’s to raise awareness about police brutality.
Marshawn Lynch doesnt respect America enough to stand for our National Anthem. No problem standing for Mexico's anthem. This is today's @NFL #BoycottNFL #StandForTheAnthem #MAGA #IStand #TakeAHike pic.twitter.com/1WXmRVPEP9
— J_Patriot_Train (@r_little_finger) November 19, 2017
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