The National Football League saw yet another national anthem protest during the Oakland Raiders versus San Francisco 49ers football game Thursday night. But this one was different. This time, the kneeling wasn't done by a football player, but by a cheerleader.
During the national anthem, one of the San Francisco 49ers cheerleaders decided to take a knee. Pictures of her kneeling were taken, tweeted, and quickly went viral.
One of the Niners cheerleaders is taking a knee. pic.twitter.com/DW5SJqh9zj
— 2004 never happened (@GatorLenny) November 2, 2018
Close up:@49ers cheerleader takes a knee during #NationalAnthem pic.twitter.com/f4PC0p9IPf
— Damian Trujillo (@newsdamian) November 2, 2018
According to the Huffington Post, this is the first time an NFL cheerleader has knelt during the national anthem.
Since the official start of the 2018 NFL season, national anthem protests have mostly gone unnoticed, and the president and media have devoted coverage to other issues.
However, during the NFL pre-season in August, President Trump took to Twitter to condemn the protests he did see.
The NFL players are at it again - taking a knee when they should be standing proudly for the National Anthem. Numerous players, from different teams, wanted to show their “outrage” at something that most of them are unable to define. They make a fortune doing what they love......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2018
.....Be happy, be cool! A football game, that fans are paying soooo much money to watch and enjoy, is no place to protest. Most of that money goes to the players anyway. Find another way to protest. Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be Suspended Without Pay!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2018
The national anthem protests first started during the 2016 NFL season with then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who knelt to protest police brutality and other forms of racial injustice.
Though no longer an NFL player, Kaepernick has found ways to keep himself in the news. Nike made Kaepernick the face of its "Just Do It" campaign in September, and various organizations have bestowed him with awards and honors for his actions on and off the field.
Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything. #JustDoIt pic.twitter.com/SRWkMIDdaO
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 3, 2018
Before the start of the season, the NFL tried to require players to stand for the national anthem, but pushback forced the league to put the new rule on hold just two months later.