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Prior to kicking off tonight’s season opener between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, much speculation focused on 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, his pre-game protest taking place during the national anthem and who would join him.
Two Los Angeles Rams, DE Robert Quinn and WR Keeny Britt, raised their fists during the anthem:
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On the 49ers’ side, Kaepernick took a knee, joined by teammate Eric Reid. Fellow Niners Eli Harold and Antoine Bethea also raised a fist in the air.
It’s a symbolic gesture that gained notoriety in the 1968 Summer Olympics when two Americans, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, raised their fists while the anthem was played during the medal ceremony.
The Rams made national waves in late 2014 when WRs Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Kenny Britt, Jared Cook and Chris Givens came out of the tunnel with the hands up as a symbolic gesture to support the community during the Ferguson demonstrations and riots.