Some members of the San Francisco 49ers chose to kneel with the hands over their hearts during the national anthem before Sunday's game at the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium.
A total of 30 49ers chose to kneel during the anthem, while other players stood behind the kneeling players during the anthem.
Statement from the 49ers on today’s pregame demonstration: pic.twitter.com/JPsZjvjjnw
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) October 1, 2017
All Arizona Cardinals players appeared to be standing on the sideline while the anthem played.
All Cardinals players appeared to stand during today's #NationalAnthem. pic.twitter.com/pG6gr4CZ9X
— ABC15 Sports (@abc15sports) October 1, 2017
Sunday is the 49ers' first NFL game since President Trump made his comment that any NFL player who doesn't stand for the anthem should be "fired." Days before the game, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said it was likely his team would be "doing something" during Sunday's anthem.
Nearly 200 players sat or took a knee during the anthem before last week's games, but only 52 did so Sunday. A majority of those were 49ers players.
Players to sit/kneel during the anthem this weekend:
49ers: 30
Rest of NFL: 22 https://t.co/e3GQpyPLpn— Shane Dale (@ShaneDaleABC15) October 2, 2017
Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was the first to take a knee before the anthem. He did so during the 2016 preseason in protest of the way minorities are treated by law enforcement.
