Athlete Attacked By Republicans For Turning Away From The Flag During Olympic Trials

An athlete on her way to the Olympics is at the center of the latest controversy surrounding the national anthem.

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Gwen Berry stood at the platform with two other hammer throwers following the U.S. Track & Field trials on Saturday when the national anthem began to play. The song, which has been a point of contention between between Black athletes and allies wanting to peacefully protest racist policing in the United States and their conservative critics, had been playing once a day during the trials — and Berry wasn’t expecting it to happen while all eyes were on her.

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I feel like it was a setup, and they did it on purpose,” she said. “I was pissed, to be honest.”

Unsure what to do, Berry ultimately turned away from the flag and back towards the stands, holding up a shirt that read “Activist Athlete.”

The move angered the people who have yet to find a single way for people to protest racial injustice that they deem acceptable, aka Republicans.

Berry’s critics sounded off on Twitter, where they again tried to twist not paying full deference to the flag into a hatred of America, among other absurdities.

Why does the Left hate America?

Sure, we have our faults, but no nation in the history of the world has liberated more people from captivity, has lifted more out of poverty, has bled more for freedom, or has blessed more w/ abundance.

God bless America. https://t.co/7hH1FMzEn0

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 28, 2021

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If she demanded her white teammates pledge allegiance to her, the media would say this is a reasonable request https://t.co/z4wmstWF61

— Scott Greer 6’2” IQ 187 (@ScottMGreer) June 28, 2021

Stop using this country as your personal travel agent. If you hate this country don’t compete in its name https://t.co/4azohZtoQx

— Lavern Spicer (@lavern_spicer) June 28, 2021

Colin Kaepernick would have been forgotten if he hadn’t thrown his little temper tantrum before the games.

Same with Gwen Berry.

These “activist athletes” would all be irrelevant if it weren’t for them being wildly disrespectful to the very country that gave them opportunity. https://t.co/n4aErBVOYg

— Zeek Arkham (@ZeekArkham) June 27, 2021

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If she isn’t proud of the US Flag and all it stands for, she can always move to back to Ghana or anywhere she believes she is descended from. Her anger and disillusionment should be towards her own race who sold her ancestors into slavery. Ugh!

https://t.co/efay50qwnm

— AMABLACKPATRIOT (@DrShayPhD) June 27, 2021

But Berry wasn’t without her supporters, as people jumped up to point out the hypocrisy when it comes to when these folks choose to clutch their pearls and when they don’t—namely, that they failed to have the same outrage when their almighty flag was used in an insurrection attempt mere months ago.

The same people who support the seditious traitors spreading election lies and undermining our democracy are pissed at Olympian Gwen Berry because she turned away from the flag instead of beating cops to death with it.

— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) June 28, 2021

Really? People are losing their shit about Gwen Berry turning away from the flag at the Olympic trials during the National Anthem.

Whatever. pic.twitter.com/GcMz4s4SqM

— Miss Leah (@LeahsLounge) June 28, 2021

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America stands for freedom. Gwen Berry is free to protest, and you’re free to criticize her. And anyone calling for her to be kicked off the Olympic team doesn’t understand America. America is big enough to embrace ANY qualifying Olympic athlete, no matter their point of view. https://t.co/Ux2RB8qw9y

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) June 28, 2021

While it’s obvious Berry wishes “The Star-Spangled Banner” had played at any other time during the day, she isn’t letting the criticisms get to her too much.

“My purpose and my mission is bigger than sports,” she said. “I’m here to represent those…who died due to systemic racism. That’s the important part. That’s why I’m going. That’s why I’m here today.”

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*First Published: June 28, 2021, 6:39 am