Anthem singer at Heat-76ers game kneels during performance

Fox News ^ | Oct. 22, 2016

[Rennes Templar]

A female singer performed the National Anthem while kneeling at midcourt before an NBA preseason game in Miami Friday night, opening her jacket to show a shirt with the phrase "Black Lives Matter."

The Miami Heat identified the singer as Denasia Lawrence. The team said of her gesture, "We were unaware of it ahead of time."

Lawrence posted video of her performance on Twitter along with a statement saying in part that "I took the opportunity to sing AND kneel; to show that we belong in this country AND that we have the right to respectfully protest injustices against us."

Heat players and coaches stood side-by-side for the anthem, all with their arms linked as has been their custom during the preseason. Many had their heads down as Lawrence sang before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The anthem issue has been a major topic in the sports world in recent months, starting with the decision by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to not stand for its playing. Kaepernick cited racial injustice and police brutality among the reasons for his protest, and athletes from many sports — and many levels, from youth all the way to professional — have followed his lead in various ways.

Tysse is white. Lawrence is black.

"I love and honor my country as deeply as anyone yet it is my responsibility as an American to speak up against injustice as it affects my fellow Americans," Tysse wrote on Facebook. "I have sung the anthem before but this time taking a knee felt like the most patriotic thing I could do. I cannot idly stand by as black people are unlawfully profiled, harassed and killed by our law enforcement over and over and without a drop of accountability."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[DallasSun]

Ha! Kapernick is not the sharpest enchilada in the drawer.

[ETL]

Now contrast that jerk (49ers QB Kaepernick) with the young Miami Marlins pitcher who was killed a few weeks ago in a boating accident...

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“Jose Fernandez -the NL Rookie of the Year in 2013 - came to the United States by boat as a 15-year-old Cuban refugee in 2008. Along the way, he rescued his mother, who had fallen overboard.

However, his beloved grandmother, who Fernandez calls a “baseball freak,” was left behind.

“She’s the love of my life... my everything,” Fernandez said.

The day before winning the Rookie of the Year Award, a shocked Fernandez was reunited with his grandmother in Florida with help from Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/watch-mlb-star-jose-fernandez-reunited-with-grandmother-for-first-time-since-defecting-from-cuba/
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[God luvs America]

i hate the NBA so i hopes this continues to happen...the NBA will not be able to handle the drop off in fan interest as the NFL can...

[Lion Den Dan]

I would give Lawrence a pass on this when I think of the shrieking, unintelligible caterwaul she produced. Those kind of presentations are hardly the National Anthem.

[Impala64ssa]

Stopped watching the rich gangsta show some time ago.
I miss the days of Walt Frazier, "Dollar Bill" Bradley (before he became NJ Senator), Willis Reed, Dr. J, etc. Other than Saquille O'Neil and a few others, I stopped following the NBA years ago

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“Injustices against us.” Did the overseer let her leave the plantation for this special guest appearance. Did massa recommend her for her singing talents? Is she back picking cotton today? Did she have to eat dinner in the slave shack?

She doesn’t know the meaning of injustice.

[Mollypitcher1]

think the point of all this is to get people so upset they just stop doing the anthems before events, period.
................................
and they will accomplished their goal. Communism forces the destruction of PATRIOTISM in a country.It is all in the plan.

[husky ed]

She was only there to pick the next sperm donor.

Ed

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Most excellent analogy!

[Enten]

As if we needed another reason to not watch NBA and NFL.

Crapping in your own nest? Never a good idea.

[A_Former_Democrat]

Cuban, Silver, et al ..and now this bitch

Time to boycott NBA if not doing so already

[A_Former_Democrat]

Hey you ignorant ingrate....just name the ones “without accountability”

You’re so smart, back up your unpatriotic, racist statements rather than just show yourself as a brainwashed fool

[abclily]

What’s wrong with these people? Bowing indicates reverence. They disrespect the flag by revering it? ????????????????

[xp38]

To me the anthem should be sung on opening and closing games of the season, All Star, post season games and July 4th baseball games with good singers only.

[Old Yeller]

Why do they kneel? Do they kneel in submission to Americans? Just like the thugs who wear their pants down at their knees. Are they presenting themselves for anal sex?

[kearnyirish2]

Beyoncé’s hair indicates “she wish she white”...certainly not that she’s proud to be black.

The people who look up to the rich ghetto trash employed in the “bread & circuses” industry are distinct and separate from those of us that “matter”.

[skimbell]

"A female singer performed the National Anthem while kneeling at midcourt..."

Was. it Madonna?

[dfwgator]

Madonna would be kneeling and bobbing.

[eaglestar]

[wardaddy]

That second pic may be from someone being hurt on the other team

Football moms find it cute