When Colin Kaepernick took a knee in 2016, he brought the limelight to racial injustice and police brutality in the country. Soon after, most players started taking the knee. That included USWNT star Megan Rapinoe. Being a human rights activist, Rapinoe is one of the most influential women in the world.

Apart from her dazzling soccer skills, she is the voice for people who face social injustice. Hence, in a recent interview with Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers, Rapinoe recalls why she followed Kaepernick. For her, the gesture made perfect sense. 

The duo discussed various topics related to sports, playing career, and social issues that needed addressing. The eye-opening interview saw Rapinoe stating how Kaepernick’s movement made sense to her. Like others, she wanted to send out a message of solidarity to society. 

Megan Rapinoe speaks up on taking a knee!

In the interview, Rapinoe explained her thought process for taking the knee, “I thought it made perfect sense the second that I heard Colin speak. I feel like, I can still remember, that you know the sports center clip him in front of his locker. You know, I feel like what he said then is as applicable now as it will be in you know 10 20 years.”

Since then, taking a knee in soccer matches soon became a regular occurrence. According to the BBC, the murder of George Floyd shocked the world because of the police brutality which transpired. Taking the knee rose to prominence as soccer players across the globe started taking the knee.

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It became a powerful movement as other nations adopted the gesture. Although many players followed the move, some people opposed the action. Most leagues stopped taking the knee and were restricted from practicing it in specific months, like Black History Month. 

Legendary Women Hillary Clinton, Billie Jean King, and Others Congratulate Megan Rapinoe and USWNT for Bringing in Change for Women

The movement sparks both positive and negative reactions from people. However, Rapinoe’s decision to take a knee is influential, and she continues to strive for injustice. The women’s equal pay issue came into the spotlight after she protested against getting similar pay to the USMNT. 

The movement of Colin Kaepernick

Ever since Colin Kaepernick started the move, it became a voice for the voiceless. He drew praise from several communities, including the chairman of the Department of African and Afro-American Studies at Brandeis University, Chad Williams.

 According to the New York Times, he stated, “Kneeling is both an act of defiance and resistance, but also of reverence, of mourning, but also honoring lives lost. It is also simple and clear. Its simplicity gave it symbolic power, and as we see now, its power persists.”

Therefore, the movement he started is still prevalent in 2023. As Rapinoe mentioned, this movement will live long enough in everyone’s memory and continues to rise as a reflex during social discrimination. Do you think Megan Rapinoe has a point?

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