Gwen Berry showed ‘courage’ in anthem demonstration, Olympic star Michael Johnson says

Decorated previous Olympian Michael Johnson on Monday remarked about Gwen Berry’s demonstration through the countrywide anthem on the podium at the U.S. trials.

Johnson, a 4-time Olympic gold medalist, tweeted there ended up two matters about Berry’s protest that stood out to him no matter if these watching the hammer thrower concur with her or not.

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“Irrespective if you concur with @MzBerryThrows or not 1) You just cannot deny her bravery standing up for her beliefs realizing the backlash. 2) United states identities as an example of freedom which involves the liberty to stand, kneel, or peacefully demonstrate when the anthem plays,” he wrote.

When a admirer asked irrespective of whether the Olympics are going to be just about the protests and less about the sports, Johnson replied: “Whatever it requires brother!”

Berry completed in third spot in the course of the U.S. Olympic observe and field trials Saturday, earning a location on the U.S. Olympic workforce. Her determination to convert her back again on the flag and deal with her confront in the warmth with a shirt that read “Activist Athlete” was what drew the scrutiny.

GWEN BERRY Suggests Nationwide ANTHEM DEMONSTRATION SCRUTINY PROVES TWO Factors

On Saturday, Berry took problem with the timing of the national anthem and reported she was instructed it would be played before she stepped onto the podium.

“I really feel like it was a set-up, and they did it on intent,” Berry explained. “I was pissed, to be genuine.”

Gold and silver medalists DeAnna Selling price and Brooke Andersen faced the flag with their right fingers around their hearts though Berry faced away and toward the stands.

“They mentioned they were heading to play it right before we walked out, then they played it when we have been out there … But I don’t actually want to communicate about the anthem mainly because which is not important,” she claimed. “The anthem will not speak for me. It under no circumstances has.”

“My purpose and my mission is even bigger than athletics,” she continued. “I’m right here to depict those people … who died because of to systemic racism. That is the important part. That is why I am going. That’s why I’m here today.”

A United states Track and Discipline spokesperson disputed Berry’s claim that it was a set-up.

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Berry gained gold medals at the 2014 Pan American Sporting activities Festival and the 2019 Pan American Game titles. She was sanctioned by the Intercontinental Olympic Committee following elevating a fist in protest at the stop of the participating in of the national anthem.

Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj and the Associated Push contributed to this report.