NFL protests serve as a continuation of the past
While Quarterback Colin Kaepernick's protest certainly grabbed the country's attention, athletes have been using ceremonial moments to take a stand for nearly a hundred years (Gajanan). Here's a look at some of these protests:
Compilations of Athletes Protesting
Vera Caslavska (1968 Olympics)
Caslavska, a gymnast from Czechoslovakia, experienced tremendous success during the 1968 Olympics, winning four gold and two silver medals. However, she rose to international prominence following her act of subtle, yet unmistakable, protest against the then-existing Soviet Union during an award ceremony. At the time, Czechoslovakia was engaging in an anti-communist struggle against the Soviet Union--something which made Caslavska's wins more notable. Facing Soviet opposition during the Olympics as well, she finished in a tie for first-place on the floor exercise with Soviet competitor, Larisa Petrik. In an act which surprised many, Caslavska turned her head away during a playing of the Soviet national anthem at the award ceremony. Watch the video below:
Caslavska, a gymnast from Czechoslovakia, experienced tremendous success during the 1968 Olympics, winning four gold and two silver medals. However, she rose to international prominence following her act of subtle, yet unmistakable, protest against the then-existing Soviet Union during an award ceremony. At the time, Czechoslovakia was engaging in an anti-communist struggle against the Soviet Union--something which made Caslavska's wins more notable. Facing Soviet opposition during the Olympics as well, she finished in a tie for first-place on the floor exercise with Soviet competitor, Larisa Petrik. In an act which surprised many, Caslavska turned her head away during a playing of the Soviet national anthem at the award ceremony. Watch the video below:
St. Louis Rams Players (2014)
In 2014, before a game against the Oakland Raiders, Rams players Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Chris Givens, and Kenny Britt all participated in a demonstration protesting the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson. When the players entered the game, they recreated the "Hands Up, Don't Shoot" rallying cry of Ferguson protesters. Cook defended the action, saying, "I just think there has to be a change. There has to be a change that starts with the people that are most influential around the world." The St. Louis Police Officers Association (SLPOA) released a statement calling the protest "tasteless, offensive, and inflammatory." Watch the video below to learn more about the events of Ferguson and the protest.