Washington: US Vice President Mike Pence walked out of a National Football League game on Sunday in his home state of Indiana after some players knelt during the national anthem, a form of demonstration that began last year as a symbolic protest about police violence against racial minorities.
"I left today's Colts game because President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem," Pence said in a statement issued by the White House.
President Donald Trump has criticized players sharply for the protests and pressed the NFL to ban them.
The right to participate in such a protest is protected by the US Constitution's First Amendment.
Critics of players kneeling at the pre-game playing of the national anthem, including Trump, object to any protest, regardless of its merits, during a ceremony meant to honor the US flag and military veterans.
Pence, who has gone out of his way to demonstrate loyalty to Trump, said in his statement it was important to rally around the flag and things that unite the country.
"While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I don't think it's too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem," Pence said. "I stand with President Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our Flag and our National Anthem."
(Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Jeff Mason; editing by Grant McCool)
"I left today's Colts game because President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem," Pence said in a statement issued by the White House.
President Donald Trump has criticized players sharply for the protests and pressed the NFL to ban them.
Critics of players kneeling at the pre-game playing of the national anthem, including Trump, object to any protest, regardless of its merits, during a ceremony meant to honor the US flag and military veterans.
Advertisement
Pence, who has gone out of his way to demonstrate loyalty to Trump, said in his statement it was important to rally around the flag and things that unite the country.
"While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I don't think it's too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem," Pence said. "I stand with President Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our Flag and our National Anthem."
Advertisement
© Thomson Reuters 2017
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Ex US Vice President Mike Pence Says Won't Back Trump For President In 2024 "This Is Not My Time": Republican Mike Pence Drops Out Of US Presidential Race Former US Vice-President Mike Pence Announces 2024 Presidential Run Indian-Origin Family, On Way To Daughter's College, Killed In US Car Crash Woman Doctor Assaulted By Drunk Patient, His Relatives At Mumbai Hospital BJP Leader, 2 Doctors Summoned Over 'Fake News' On Kolkata Rape-Murder Questions That CBI Asked RG Kar Hospital Ex-Principal Over Kolkata Horror Imane Khelif, And The Scourge Of 'Transvestigators' Swiggy, Zomato Roll Out New 'Group Ordering' Feature On Respective Platforms Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.