On a Sunday when national anthem protests will be the biggest storyline in the NFL, leading to fierce debate over freedom and what it means to be an American, the first protests occured thousands of miles away on another continent.
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The Jaguars and Ravens kicked off Week 3 in London's Wembley Stadium at 9:30 a.m. ET, and before the game, everyone watching in the stadium, and TV viewers "across the pond" in the states wondered what would happen.
Waiting for the anthem like it's a tie game with 2 minutes left in the fourth. pic.twitter.com/pUIPsJcAEj
— Jane McManus (@janesports) September 24, 2017
What happened is this: Many players on both sidelines chose to kneel.
Several players kneeling during national anthem in Ravens-Jags game following Trump’s statement. pic.twitter.com/6iBS2LCx10
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) September 24, 2017
Many players choose to kneel. pic.twitter.com/iY9uJSlSpS
— Jane McManus (@janesports) September 24, 2017
Florida Times-Union reporter Ryan O'Halloran counted 14 Jaguars kneeling during the anthem.
And the players on both sidelines who didn't kneel showed their solidarity for teammates by standing together with arms locked. Standing on the Jaguars sideline with the players: Team owner Shad Khan — who donated $1 million to President Donald Trump's inauguration fund.
Unity pic.twitter.com/wSNsc4BSEV
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) September 24, 2017
Never seen an owner taking part in an anthem demonstration with players. But there is #Jaguars owner Shad Khan locking arms with players
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 24, 2017
The players who knelt for the national anthem stood afterward for the playing of "God Save the Queen."