January 14 – Outspoken US star Megan Rapinoe, one of the most powerful and popular voices in the game and a long-standing critic of Donald Trump, says last week’s pro-Trump riots on Capitol Hill were “a huge stain” on her country.
Rapinoe, who led her country to the World Cup title in 2019 and is about to return to US Women’s National Team (USWNT) for the first time in nearly a year, remains an influential figure when it comes to social justice and did not mince her words when addressing the disgraceful scenes in Washington.
“This is America, make no mistake about it,” Rapinoe told reporters. “I think we showed very much our true colours. This is not the first time we have seen a murderous mob like that. Unleashing a White supremacy mob is nothing new to America as people of colour, Black and Brown, know that very well. If we do not punish this and investigate this to the fullest extent it only encourages more of this to happen.”
Rapinoe was one of the first high-profile athletes to come out in support of former NFL player Colin Kaepernick, the sportsman who initiated the taking a knee protests that are now practised across the world.
“Just from a personal standpoint it’s very unsettling and scary … This was about White supremacy and holding up White supremacy and I hope that we can see this and move forward with justice,” she said.
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