Samantha Murphy, a goalkeeper for the National Women’s Soccer League, shocked many by standing during the national anthem on Saturday, while the rest of her team took a knee.
Images of Murphy, a backup goalie for the North Carolina Courage, standing with her hand over her heart as the national anthem played flooded social media. Many praised the player for showing patriotism when all around her refused.
Murphy is also not an opponent of the Black Lives Matter movement. She was seen wearing a BLM t-shirt during warmups and she did join her teammates by taking a knee as an announcer read a statement honoring victims of racial injustice ahead of the team’s match against the Portland Thorns, according to Fox News.
The team released a statement explaining its actions.
“We took a knee today to protest racial injustice, police brutality, and systemic racism against Black people and people of color in America. We love our country and we have taken this opportunity to hold it to a higher standard. It is our duty to demand that the liberties and freedoms this nation was founded upon are extended to everyone,” the team said.
Murphy’s team eventually beat the Thorns, 2-1.
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