The return of the National Women’s Soccer League sparked a wave of player protests against racial injustice last weekend, with an overwhelming majority of female players kneeling during the national anthem.
One of the most powerful images came when Chicago Red Stars players Casey Short and Julie Ertz knelt together, with Ertz hugging Short in an emotional hug. Photos from the moment documented that another member of the Red Stars laid his hand on Short, but notably refused to kneel with the rest of his team.
That player, forward Rachel Hill, took to Twitter on Tuesday to explain her decision, saying “it was not easy or without deep thought.”
In a long statement, Hill said he supported the message of the protests, but cited his family’s military members as the reason he decided not to kneel. He also mentioned having “genuine” conversations with Short and Ertz before and after the game.
The cross of Hill’s explanation:
I chose to stand up for what the flag inherently means to my military family members and myself, but I support 100% of my comrades. Symbolically, I tried to show this by placing my hand on Casey’s shoulder and bowing my head. I struggled, but I felt that these actions showed my truth, and in the end I wanted to be true to myself.
If this was not clear, let my words and other actions be. I support the life movement of black lives wholeheartedly. I also support and will do my part in the fight against current inequality. As a white athlete, I have been diligently anti-racist for a long time.
The military justification echoes what put the New Orleans Saints Drew Brees in trouble with several of her teammates, but Hill says she 100% supports her teammates’ protests and message. It’s also worth mentioning that the act of protesting injustice by kneeling down during the national anthem originated when a green beret warned Colin Kaepernick that kneeling would be more respectful of the military than sitting down.
Hill also received a little support from Short, who released a statement with Ertz on Tuesday calling his conversations with Hill authentic:
I, Casey, can only speak for myself, but the conversations I’ve had with players, specifically Rachel, have been without real apology. I have to ask where is my hope. It is in my faith and in those kinds of conversations that have been long overdue. The types of conversations that are raw and uncomfortable, which can lead to real shocking change.
Clearly, none of this was easy for anyone involved.
Casey Short, Julie Ertz, and most of her teammates knelt during the anthem. One did not. (AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)
Since then, the NWSL has altered its national anthem policy, allowing players to remain in the locker room while the song is played in an empty stadium. Major League Soccer, the best men’s league in the United States, has said it will take a different route by simply not playing the anthem, citing the lack of fans in the stands.
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