Soccer Player Rachel Hill Shares Why She Stood during the National Anthem as Teammates Knelt

Chicago Red Stars forward Rachel Hill recently released a statement explaining why she chose to stand during the national anthem on opening day of the Challenge Cup for the National Women’s Soccer League despite her teammates taking a knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

According to ESPN, in a Twitter post on Tuesday, Hill asserted that while she stood during the National Anthem out of respect for her military family, she “wholeheartedly” supports the Black Lives Matter movement.

“When I stood for the national anthem before the Chicago Red Stars’ most recent game, this was a decision that did not come easily or without profound thought,” Hill shared, noting that she sought out advice on what to do from family, friends and teammates.

“I chose to stand because of what the flag inherently means to my military family members and me. But I 100% support my peers.” She asserted.

Hill added that she tried to show solidarity with her Black teammates and the Black community as a whole by placing her hand on Defender Casey Short’s shoulder and bowing her head.

“I struggled, but felt that these actions show my truth, and in the end, I wanted to remain true to myself,” Hill wrote.

Hill went on to note that she spoke with several of her Black teammates, including Short and Sarah Gorden before and after the game, noting that she will…