Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans sat during the playing of the national anthem before the Buccaneers’ win over the Bears on Sunday to protest Donald Trump’s victory in Tuesday’s presidential election.
“If this happens, then America’s not right right now,” Evans told reporters postgame. “I said this a long time ago. When he ran, I thought it was a joke, and the joke continues. I’m not a political person that much, but I got common sense. And I know when something’s not right.”
Evans continued, saying that he respects the country’s armed forces, and plans not to stand as long as Trump is president-elect.
“I don’t want to, you know, disrespect the veterans or anything,” Evans said. “The men and women who serve this country, I’m forever indebted to them. But the things that’s been going on in America lately, I’m not going to stand for that. When Ashton Kutcher comes out and says we’ve been punked, then I’ll stand again. But I won’t stand anymore.”
The wideout became the first player to protest Trump’s victory election by choosing not to stand, but he is one of many who have chosen the anthem as a forum of protest. 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the anthem during the presason to voice concerns over racial inequality and police violence.
Kaepernick said that he did not vote in the election because he believed racial issues would remain, and did not care for either candidate.
– Kenny Ducey
