Leah Tysse, the white singer who knelt while performing the national anthem at a preseason NBA game on Monday, has received both backlash and praise for her actions.
“I cannot idly stand by as black people are unlawfully profiled, harassed and killed by our law enforcement over and over without a drop of accountability,” Tysse wrote on Facebook explaining her decision to kneel.
On Twitter, the response to Tysse was largely positive, with one person tweeting out, “As an American of African descendent and a veteran I thank you. You made my heart smile.”
However, others criticized her decision, including some veterans.
“It sends a bad message to other people in our country, and it definitely sends a bad message around the world,” said veteran Martin Walker.
“I’m not a bit pleased with it,” said veteran Alfred Haney, who claimed that the sight of Tysse kneeling sent chills down his spine.
Tysse’s decision to kneel comes during a wave of protests that have gripped national attention since Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during the national anthem in protest of the way people of color are treated in the United States.\
