Indiana State Player Protests National Anthem Before Game vs. Minnesota
The movement San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started has reached the Indiana State Sycamores football team.
Shaun King of the New York Daily News captured the image of an Indiana State player taking a knee during the national anthem prior to Saturday's game against Minnesota:
"A player from Indiana State just took a knee for injustice in America during the anthem in the game vs Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/zZrZwS7Hds
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) September 10, 2016"
The photo doesn't make it immediately clear which Sycamores player is kneeling, but Sports Illustrated suggested it's sophomore defensive back Lonnie Walker II.
Kaepernick's protest became public knowledge during a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 26, when he was photographed sitting on the bench as the national anthem played.
He changed his approach before a game against the San Diego Chargers on Sept. 1, taking a knee during the anthem with teammate Eric Reid. As Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reported, after Kaepernick met with former Green Beret Nate Boyer, the quarterback decided kneeling would be more respectful of military personnel while still getting his point across.
The movement has gained a lot of steam over the last two weeks. Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane sat on the bench during the national anthem before his team's final preseason game, and Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, who played with Kaepernick in college, took a knee before his squad's season opener against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday.
Athletes from other sports have also engaged in the protest, with soccer star Megan Rapinoe kneeling prior to a Seattle Reign-Chicago Red Stars game Sept. 4.
