USWNT Player: Megan Rapinoe Would 'Almost Bully' Teammates into Kneeling for Anthem
Ex-U.S. women’s soccer star Hope Solo blows whistle on far-left 'protests'
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Former U.S. women’s soccer star Hope Solo has claimed that her ex-teammate Megan Rapinoe would “almost bully players” into kneeling during the national anthem.
Kneeling during the national anthem is a far-left movement kickstarted by former NFL player Colin Kaepernick in 2016 to protest “organized brutality.”
The "protest" has become popular among those on the left who support Marxism and promote the Black Lives Matter organization.
Left-wing activist Rapinoe and the USWNT have been vocal about BLM and pushing their anti-American movement.
However, the team's repeated decision to kneel as a form of protest has angered much of America.
The protesting even led many Americans to actively root against the team as they attempted to win the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
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Solo and Rapinoe spent several years together on the USWNT, and the former goalie isn’t overly impressed with the national anthem protests that have swept through the team.
In fact, Solo, who was removed from the team in 2016 before kneeling consumed sports, thinks Rapinoe pushed players to do it.
"I think the kneeling thing can be very divisive,” Solo said on Goal’s “All of Us: The U.S. Women’s Soccer Show” when discussing Rapinoe and the national anthem protest.
"I’ve seen Megan Rapinoe almost bully players into kneeling because she really wants to stand up for something in her particular way," Solo revealed.
She also added, “I think the rhetoric surrounding this team has been both divisive and inclusive.
"I guess it’s kind of where we are in politics in this day and age.”
“Right now what I’ve seen is there’s been so much debate about the kneeling, about the not kneeling,” Solo added.
"I know most people stand against discrimination.
"And I live in the south, I live in a very conservative area here in North Carolina in the south.
"Obviously, I have friends on both sides of the aisle, but I think the kneeling thing can be very divisive.”
“It’s tough,” Solo told Goal.
"But it’s our right as Americans to do it whatever way we’re comfortable with and I think that’s really hard being on the main stage right now with so many political issues for athletes,” Solo continued.
"There’s a lot of pressure and ultimately at the end of the day our number one focus should and has always been to win first.”
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In February 2021, United States Soccer repealed their policy stating that “all persons representing a Federation national team shall stand respectfully during the playing of national anthems at any event in which the Federation is represented.”
After the death of George Floyd in May 2020, kneeling during the national anthem became a near requirement for athletes before sporting events.
The select few who chose to stand during the anthem were blasted for not protesting “systemic racism” in America.
Recently retired New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was forced to apologize after saying “I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.”
