Mike Evans Sits During National Anthem to Protest Donald Trump's Election
Prior to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, wide receiver Mike Evans opted to sit during the national anthem to protest Donald Trump's election as the president of the United States.
Per JoeBucsFan.com, Evans explained why he sat during the anthem Sunday and doesn't plan to stand for the rest of the season:
I don't want to, you know, disrespect the veterans or anything. The men and women who serve this country, I'm forever indebted to them. But the things that's been going on in America lately, I'm not going to stand for that. When Ashton Kutcher comes out and says we've been punked, then I'll stand again. But I won't stand anymore.
Evans noted he heard some jeers from fans at Raymond James Stadium: "I heard it a little bit, and it was from the people that I expected it to be from."
The Buccaneers would later release a statement on Evans' decision, per ESPN.com's Jenna Laine:
The Buccaneers are deeply committed to the military and honoring the great men and women that have dedicated their lives and have made great sacrifices to insure all the tremendous freedoms we have in this great country. We encourage all members of our organization to respectfully honor our flag during the playing of the National Anthem. We also recognize every individual's constitutional right to freedom of speech, which is crucial to the American principles we cherish.
Speaking specifically about Trump's election, Evans described the situation as a joke that keeps going.
"If this happens, then America's not right right now," Evans said. "I said this a long time ago. When [Donald Trump] ran, I thought it was a joke, and the joke continues. I'm not a political person that much, but I got common sense. And I know when something's not right."
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