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Philadelphia 76ers Apologize To Sevyn Streeter For National Anthem Incident
Philadelphia 76ers Apologize To Sevyn Streeter For National Anthem Incident

Philadelphia 76ers Apologize To Sevyn Streeter For National Anthem Incident

Philadelphia 76ers Apologize To Sevyn Streeter For National Anthem Incident

Sevyn Streeter (Twitter.com/sevyn)

The Philadelphia 76ers came under fire after stopping Sevyn Streeter from singing the nationalanthem for wearing a jersey that had the words "We Matter" on the front. Now, the organization has apologized.

After receiving feedback from our players, basketball operations staff and ownership group, we believe that the wrong decision was made, and Sevyn should have been welcomed to sing, the organization said in a statement. We apologize to her, and in an effort to move the conversation forward, we have reached out to offer her an opportunity to return and perform at a game of her choice. We are waiting to hear back.

Streeter was scheduled to sing the National Anthem at the 76ers' opening home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. But minutes before she was about to step onto the court, a member of the organization stopped her because she was wearing a jersey that said "We Matter." She first recounted the incident in a video postedto her Twitter account, and was then interviewed by the Associated Press.

"I was never given any kind of dress code. I was never asked beforehand to show my wardrobe," Streeter told Associated Press. "...I was angry, extremely, extremely angry and disappointed and honestly brought to tears by all of it. It broke my heart."

The 76ers initiallyrefused to address the incident directly, saying that they encouraged "meaningful actions" instead of "symbolic gestures" - a stance taken by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver when asked about the national anthem during the NBA preseason. But this apology may show that the public, and the players, have more power than previously assumed.

The national anthem has been a point of contention since the NFL preseason when San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick began to refuse to stand for thetraditional pre-game performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Kaepernick said he would refuse to stand until the United States began to protect black citizens from racial profiling and police brutality, and to take care of soldiers when they come home after serving. The protests have been controversial, as some have considered the protest as disrespectful toward the U.S. military.

Since Kaepernick's protests, other players in the NFL, NBA, and women's soccer star Megan Rapinoe have all used actions the National Anthem to speak about the issue. NFL players and Rapinoe have knelt, like Kaepernick, to protest the anthem. NBA players have locked arms while the anthem plays, in attempts to show unity. Kneeling for the anthem is not against NFL rules, but it does violate NBA rules.