Seahawks once again link arms in show of unity during national anthem

LOS ANGELES -- The Seattle Seahawks again linked arms in a show of unity during the national anthem, this time before Sunday's game against the Rams. Pete Carroll was arm in arm with Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett.





The Rams assumed their usual line of players on the sideline. Defensive lineman Robert Quinn again raised his right fist in the air during the anthem. He was not joined by receiver Kenny Britt, who raised his fist before the Rams' opener.

The Hawks last week -- on Sept. 11 -- went through with what they called a planned “demonstration of unity”, linking arms during the national anthem before the team’s season opener at CenturyLink Field. Reaction from the crowd was largely positive.

On Friday night, the entire Garfield High School team, including the coaches, took a knee during the national anthem before their game against West Seattle High to protest “social injustices.”

After the game, which Garfield won, Garfield High School head football coach Joey Thomas said that "the players decided to do this" to bring attention to "social injustices," emphasizing that it was "a player-driven" move and that his players plan to continue the practice during the anthem before every game "until they tell us to stop."

The recent public protests during the national anthem at sports events began a couple of weeks ago when San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat during the national anthem to protest racial injustice. After receiving some criticism that he was disrespecting the flag, Kaepernick started kneeling during the anthem. Several other NFL players have also begun kneeling during the anthem.

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