Cheers to Track and Field Athlete Gwen Berry for Turning Her Back to the Flag When the National Anthem Was Played
| revcom.us
From a reader:
On Saturday, June 26, when the three women hammer throwers were on the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials victory stand, third-place finisher Gwen Berry put her hands on her hips and turned her back on the flag while the national anthem was being played. She then raised a black T-shirt that had on it “Activist Athlete.”
Berry, who holds the indoor world record for the hammer throw, has been outspoken about social justice for Black people. During the Pan American Games two years ago, she raised her fist when she was on the victory podium during playing of the national anthem and was punished for it. She recorded a New York Times opinion video, “I Used the Podium to Protest. The Olympic Committee Punished Me,” which can be seen here. And she tweeted, “It’s time for Real Change. Athletes must continue to bring awareness to the systemic oppression Blacks have endured for centuries. We should never be silenced and punished for speaking out.”
Berry has been a strong advocate for athletes to be able to hold political protests during their competition. In an open letter, “Sport, Politics, Protest and the Olympics,” she states that “the idea that sport and politics can be separated is absurd.”
Berry will be attending her second Olympics in August in Tokyo, and she has promised to keep raising awareness there about systemic racism in the U.S. She said, “My purpose and my mission is bigger than sports. 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.’”
At the end of her New York Times opinion video, Gwen Berry says, “I’m ready for Tokyo 2021 and my next podium, and when I get there, I want to be able to raise my fist and my voice without being punished.”
On June 26, 2021, At the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Oregon,
Gwen Berry, third place hammer thrower, put her hands on her hips and turned her back on the flag while the national anthem was being played. Photo: AP
It’s time for Real Change. Athletes must continue to bring awareness to the systemic oppression Blacks have endured for centuries. We should never be silenced and punished for speaking out. Thank you @nytopinion for helping me create this powerful piece. ✊🏾✊🏾 https://t.co/I6Y3nKe6XN
— Gwen Berry (@MzBerryThrows) September 7, 2020
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