Advertisement

NFL cheerleader takes knee during national anthem

By Alex Butler
San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush has not issued a statement regarding the cheerleader who kneeled during the national anthem on Thursday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI
San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush has not issued a statement regarding the cheerleader who kneeled during the national anthem on Thursday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

Nov. 2 (UPI) -- A San Francisco 49ers cheerleader took a knee during the national anthem on Thursday Night Football.

The kneeling occurred before opening kickoff of the 49ers' 34-3 win against the Oakland Raiders on Thursday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Advertisement

The cheerleader has yet to be identified. The 49ers have not released a statement on the kneeling. Nearby cheerleaders stood and held their pom-poms over their hearts while the other cheerleader took a knee in the back row.

TV viewers were not able to see the cheerleader kneeling, as FOX is one of the networks that has chosen to not air the anthem before NFL games.

Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the national anthem in 2016 in protest of policy brutality and racial inequality. The practice has since been picked up by several players, including Kenny Stills and Kaepernick's former teammate Eric Reid, who still kneel during the anthem in 2018.

Latest Headlines