Megan Rapinoe of the American women’s soccer team took a knee during the national anthem on Thursday, following the lead of Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players protesting racial inequality.
According to the New York Times, the stakes are higher with Rapinoe kneeling, given that she is representing the nation while the other protestors were part of professional or school teams.
In an interview after the game against Thailand in Columbus, Ohio, Rapinoe said, “Ultimately, I just went with what’s in my heart.”
“I truly feel like I am representing my country by doing this, in representing everyone that lives in this country, not just the people who look like me,” she added.