Packers, Bears players lock arms during national anthem, while some Green Bay fans follow suit

[riversedge]

Source: USA Today



USA TODAY Sports Published 8:28 p.m. ET Sept. 28, 2017 | Updated 11:02 p.m. ET Sept. 28, 2017



Green Bay Packers players, coaches and staff locked arms during the national anthem Thursday night, a plan they revealed earlier this week, prior to their game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. Many Bears players and coaches did the same.

Some fans in the stands also locked arms in unison with the Packers, while others held their hands over their hearts and some saluted during the singing of The Star-Spangled Banner.

A chant of "U-S-A" rolled through the stadium prior to the anthem.

Green Bay players released a statement through the team website Tuesday night inviting fans to join them in portraying unity, locking arms in the stands during the national anthem.

Coach Mike McCarthy said............................

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2017/09/28/packers-bears-players-lock-arms-during-national-anthem-some-green-bay-fans-follow-suit-trump/714925001/

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Link to tweet

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

1. Good for them!!

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

2. This was what I was afraid of

Other teams have mentioned this type of unity celebration ESPN fawned it this morning as middle ground.

Not that I'm against it at all but if they all do this trump will hail it as some victory of his.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. Has anyone established what the "linking arms" is meant to symbolize?

I've seen a bunch of different meanings. "Unity" seems awfully safe and something you can project just about anything onto.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. Dead On

This is an intentional dilution of the message to make the controversy, such as it is (and overblown by the willfully ignorant) go away.

[bullwinkle428]

5. Totally get what you're saying - "Unity in lockstep with Dear Leader Mango Unchained"!

[Not Ruth]

6. I think that the kneel protested police brutality and the linked arms are from MLK at Selma

[Chakaconcarne]

7. Perhaps a means to bait the Trumpsters.....

Are Trumpsters pissed about kneeling or are they pissed about the message to oppose police brutality?

When GB announced they were locking arms, there were news stories showing trumpsters burning GB jersies.. So, it appears they are going to be vocal no matter how the protest is conveyed.

If kneeling is stopped, it's not a victory for Trump if the message is still the same IMO.

[riversedge]

8. I do not think many Trumpsters know about the protest as being opposed to police brutality, they

just repeat trumps comments--against the flag, unpatriotic, --anything along those lines. If they do know, they ignore it!

[obamanut2012]

9. The US and British Suffragrettes linked arms for strength and unity

As in, literal strength, to protect them. The Civil Rights leaders followed suit.