Megan Rapinoe lauds Colin Kaepernick in response to fellow NSWL players kneeling

Megan Rapie lauded  National Women's Soccer League players after both teams opted to kneel during national anm during before season opener on Saturday. rth Carolina Cour and Portland Thorns FC clashed at Zions Bank Stadium in Utah, which was first league game in United States since professional sports leagues were suspended in March due to coronavirus pandemic.

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NSWL players kneel before Challenge Cup opener

While entire nation's eyes were on game between women's soccer stars, all 22 players, as well as reserves from both teams, showed solidarity with ongoing Black Lives Matter movement by taking a knee during national anm. Several players and coaches were seen wearing Black Lives Matter shirts and armbands and y took a knee for second time right before kickoff. 

Megan Rapie, who has been a longterm advocate of Colin Kaepernick kneeling movement, took to Twitter to share her appreciation for NSWL players for ir bold stance. She wrote to Twitter how she loved watching women using ir voice to stand against social injustices, "demanding better" for United States. Megan Rapie tagged both teams along with Colin Kaepernick in her tweet. 

Colin Kaepernick kneeling movement started in 2016 after quarterback started kneeling during national anm throughout 2016 NFL season. n-San Francisco 49ers quarterback was heavily criticised for his protests, which ultimately led to his NFL exit in 2017. Megan Rapie, who plays for OL Reign, even supported  Colin Kaepernick kneeling movement in 2016 when she knelt during national anm at an NWSL game and two national games.

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With players from several leagues showing ir support for Colin Kaepernick's protests against racial injustice, US Soccer adopted a rule that made it mandatory for players to stand during national anm. In wake of ongoing protests, rule was repealed earlier this month as NSWL, as well as MLS, urged players to show ir support for protests. 

As mentioned, Cour's 2-1 win over Thorns was first game since leagues were suspended in March. "We took a knee today to protest racial injustice, police brutality, and systemic racism against Black people and people of colour in America,”  statement from NSWL players read. “We love our country and we have taken this opportunity to hold it to a higher standard. It is our duty to demand that liberties and freedoms this nation was founded upon are extended to everyone.”

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Why is Megan Rapie t playing in Challenge Cup?

Megan Rapie, Tobin Heath and Christen Press are among several NSWL players who opted out of  Challenge Cup due concerns about coronavirus pandemic. “Megan let us kw that she has decided t (to) play in tournament,” OL Reign chief executive Bill Predmore said in a statement. “Like all NWSL players, she was given option to participate. We understand and respect her decision.”

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(Im Credits: Megan Rapie Twitter Handle)