Get that 15 minutes girl! Lmao! Such a dumb disrespectful protest!

[superbeets]

[h=1]Woman singing national anthem kneels during performance before Miami Heat game against Philadelphia 76ers[/h]

• Denasia Lawrence sang the national anthem before NBA game in Miami
• As she sang she knelt, following lead of NFL player Colin Kaepernick
• Lawrence sang before the Miami Heat played the Philadelphia 76ers
• Miami Heat linked arms in a sign of unity before start of the game
• Kneeling for anthem has become a protest against racial discrimination

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
PUBLISHED: 04:04, 22 October 2016 | UPDATED: 05:50, 22 October 2016

 

[superbeets]

A woman performing the national anthem before an NBA preseason game in Miami on Friday night did so while kneeling at midcourt, and opening her jacket to show a shirt with the phrase 'Black Lives Matter'.
The singer was identified by the Heat as Denasia Lawrence. It was unclear if she remained in the arena after the performance, and messages left for her were not immediately returned.
Heat players and coaches stood side-by-side for the anthem, all with their arms linked as has been their custom during the preseason.
Many had their heads down as Lawrence sang, and the team released a statement saying it had no advance knowledge that she planned to kneel.

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Denasia Lawrence (pictured) sings the national anthem before an NBA preseason basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers

The Miami Heat released a statement on Twitter following the anthem saying they were unaware of it ahead of time

'We felt as a basketball team that we would do something united, so that was our focus,' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
'Throughout all of this, I think the most important thing that has come out is the very poignant, thoughtful dialogue.
'We've had great dialogue within our walls here and hopefully this will lead to action.'
The anthem issue has been a major topic in the sports world in recent months, starting with the decision by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to not stand for its playing.
Kaepernick cited racial injustice and police brutality among the reasons for his protest, and athletes from many sports — and many levels, from youth all the way to professional — have followed his lead in various ways.

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Lawrence (pictured in a Facebook photo) opened her jacket to show a shirt with the phrase 'Black Lives Matter' during the performance

 

[superbeets]

'All I can say is what we've seen in multiple preseason games so far is our players standing for the national anthem,' NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in New York earlier Friday, at a news conference following the league's board of governors meetings.
'It would be my hope that they would continue to stand for the national anthem. I think that is the appropriate thing to do.'
The NBA has a rule calling for players and coaches to stand during the anthem.
Heat guard Wayne Ellington often speaks about the need to curb gun violence, after his father was shot and killed two years ago.
He had his eyes closed for most of the anthem Friday, as per his own custom, though was aware of Lawrence's actions.
'At the end of the day, to each his own,' Ellington said. 'If she feels like that's the way she wants to stand for it, then more power to her.'
Making a statement in the manner that Lawrence did Friday is rare, but not unheard of in recent weeks.
When the Sacramento Kings played their first home preseason game earlier this month, anthem singer Leah Tysse dropped to one knee as she finished singing the song.

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The anthem issue has been a major topic in the sports world in recent months, starting with the decision by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (pictured) to not stand for its playing

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Kaepernick cited racial injustice and police brutality among the reasons for his protest, and athletes from many sports — and many levels, from youth all the way to professional — have followed his lead in various ways

Tysse is white. Lawrence is black.
'I love and honor my country as deeply as anyone yet it is my responsibility as an American to speak up against injustice as it affects my fellow Americans,' Tysse wrote on Facebook.
'I have sung the anthem before but this time taking a knee felt like the most patriotic thing I could do.
'I cannot idly stand by as black people are unlawfully profiled, harassed and killed by our law enforcement over and over and without a drop of accountability.'

 

[superbeets]

Carolyn, San Francisco, 1 hour ago
Trashy stunt by a trashy person.





Lauryn1356, PA, United States, 1 hour ago
I don't understand what sitting down during our nation's national anthem does. I see it as very disrespectful to those who died for our country and are fighting for our country now. There are other ways to promote social change without disrespecting our country





ill_tell_me_ma, Somewhere under the rainbow, United States, 1 hour ago
They should have stopped when she knelt and kicked her sorry bum out while banning her from ever going to their games.





Mad Mary, Northern California, United States, 1 hour ago
If you're going to kneel for the National Anthem that you are singing; why even do it?





cinnamongirl, Huntington beach, United States, 1 hour ago
Unbelievable.





Lucas Logic, los angeles, United States, 1 hour ago
I would have booed her with everything I have! To all Patriots, Boycott the NBA , this has got to stop.





saintsgirl, Hattiesburg , United States, 1 hour ago
Disgusting!

 

[superbeets]

 

[NFLTrends]

Maybe we should do that on the flag of Africa, or Mexico, burn them or spit on them, or whatever..... why not, freedom of speech right?

 

[HamGlaze]

Any piece of shit that dilutes the meaning of the greatest stamp on earth (U.S.A). God Bless You. As much as you hate to see, read, and hear it.. God Bless You..

 

[flashmo]

yet another reason why I don't watch the NBA

 

[Dave007inVegas]

That's all well and good. Now the big question, will she ever get a chance to do it again?

 

[SheriffJoe]

Ewww, why are the ugly ones always the most radical?