Monday 5 September 2016 10:02, UK
US soccer player Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem on Sunday before the Seattle Reign's game against the Chicago Red Stars "in a little nod" to NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick's refusal to stand for the anthem to protest at racial injustice and minority oppression came to public notice when he remained seated on the bench before a pre-season game against Green Bay.
On Thursday night in San Diego, he and safety Eric Reid kneeled during the anthem before a game against the Chargers.
"It was very intentional," Rapinoe said after Seattle's 2-2 draw in the National Women's Soccer League game.
"It was a little nod to Kaepernick and everything that he's standing for right now. I think it's actually pretty disgusting the way he was treated and the way that a lot of the media has covered it and made it about something that it absolutely isn't. We need to have a more thoughtful, two-sided conversation about racial issues in this country.
"Being a gay American, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties.
"It was something small that I could do and something that I plan to keep doing in the future and hopefully spark some meaningful conversation around it.
"It's important to have white people stand in support of people of colour on this. We don't need to be the leading voice, of course, but standing in support of them is something that's really powerful."
Rapinoe, 31, helped the United States win the World Cup last year and played in the Rio Olympics.
