Dan Crenshaw Calls for Gwen Berry's Removal from US Olympic Team Over Anthem Protest
Olympic hammer thrower hit with backlash over anti-American protest
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Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) is calling for hammer thrower Gwen Berry to be removed from the U.S. Olympic team after her anti-American protest on Sunday.
Olympic athlete Berry triggered widespread outrage when she turned her back in protest during the national anthem while standing on the podium.
Berry attacked her own country after winning a bronze medal in Oregon at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials.
As she stood at the winners' podium, she turned her back as the Star-Spangled Banner played.
She then produced a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "activist athlete" which she waved and placed over her head.
Since Sunday’s event, the 31-year-old athlete has been hit with much criticism for her un-American actions.
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One reaction, in particular, has been a staple; that Berry shouldn’t be representing the U.S. if she hates the country so much.
That idea was articulated by the representative from Texas during a Monday appearance on Fox News.
During his visit with Fox & Friends, Crenshaw insisted that action should be taken.
“We don’t need any more activist athletes. She should be removed from the team,” Crenshaw said.
Dan Crenshaw calls for Gwen Berry to be removed from the Olympic team because she turned away from the flag pic.twitter.com/c2xWKLXPPJ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 28, 2021
Crenshaw added that Berry was little different than the NBA players who have spent the last few years protesting during the anthem.
"The entire point of the Olympic team is to represent the United States of America,” Crenshaw continued.
"That’s the entire point.
"OK so, you know, it’s one thing when these NBA players do it, OK fine, we’ll just stop watching.
"But now the Olympic team?
"And it’s multiple cases of this.
"They should be removed,” he exclaimed.
"That should be the bare minimum requirement is that you believe in the country you're representing."
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For her part, Berry jumped to Twitter to deliver a message to the Texan.
At this point, y’all are obsessed with me https://t.co/HBWCE28s7x
— Gwen Berry OLY (@MzBerryThrows) June 28, 2021
"At this point, y’all are obsessed with me," the athlete blasted.
