New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara showed his support for Bubba Wallace, NASCAR's only black driver, during Sunday's Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Chris Graythen / Getty Images
"What's right is right, and what's wrong is wrong, and I think Bubba's a testament to that," Kamara told ESPN "With them being able to, I guess, step away from that, that's a huge step. And flipping the script, just rewriting the narrative on what this sport is and what it stands for. There's obviously some people that are against that decision of removing the flag, and I think there's way more people that are for that decision. Because I think there's a certain stigma on the type of fans that support this sport, and there's some bad ones. But I don't think the bad ones represent all the good ones."
Kamara tweeted out his support for NASCAR, after the organization banned Confederate flags sporting events, earlier this week.
Wallace rocked a Black Lives Matter paint scheme on his No. 43 Chevy during the race.
Kamara is teammates with Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who came under fire last week for criticizing players who have knelt during the national anthem.
"But being here today, I'm learning a lot. It's definitely a different experience in person," Kamara said.
[Via]
US Marine Corps Bans Display Of Confederate Flag
The US Marine Corps bans the display of the Confederate flag.
The US Marine Corps is banning the display of the Confederate flag from all Marine installations, the Marines announced Friday.
Stephanie Keith / Getty Images
“The Marine Corps shall remove the Confederate battle flag from all installation public spaces and work areas in order to support our core values, ensure unit cohesion and security, and preserve good order and discipline,” the order reads.
The order gives leeway for certain images containing the Confederate flag: “Displays where the Confederate battle flag is depicted, but not the main focus of the display. For example, works of art, educational, or historical displays depicting a civil war battle where the confederate battle flag is present, but not the main focus of the work.”
The Marines explained the decision on Twitter writing, “The Confederate battle flag has all too often been co-opted by violent extremist and racist groups whose divisive beliefs have no place in our Corps. Our history as a nation, and events like the violence in Charlottesville in 2017, highlight the divisiveness the use of the Confederate battle flag has had on our society. This presents a threat to our core values, unit cohesion, security, and good order and discipline.”
Check out the official order for yourself here.
[Via]
Justin Rohrwasser, Patriots Draft Pick, Addresses Controversial "Three Percenters" Tattoo
Justin Rorwasser was drafted by the New England Patriots this past Saturday, but social media was quick to point out his “Three Percenters” tattoo—a group affiliated with anti-government, white nationalist ties.
It’s been a rough few days for Justin Rohrwasser and the bumpy ride isn’t expected to dissipate. The New England Patriots chose Justin Rohrwasser to join their NFL squad this past Saturday during the fifth round of the draft pick, and it didn’t take long for the 23-year-old to make headlines. The rookie kicker bears a controversial tattoo that represents “The Three Percenters,” a reportedly white nationalist-affiliated, right-wing militia group. They have been classified as “anti-government” by the Southern Poverty Law Center and are considered to be dangerous. The group has been actively protested in the Southern United States against the removal of Confederate statues and monuments, and they actively speak out against Black Lives Matter movements.
According to Rohrwasser, he got the tattoo when he was 18-years-old and didn’t know that it was associated with the extremist group. “As soon as I saw what it was linked to on Saturday, it was exactly that time I knew I had to get it totally taken off my body,” he said, according to ESPN. “I said [I would] cover it up [to reporters], but I want to get it removed from my body. It’s shameful that I had it on there ignorantly.” He added that he “should have done way more research before I put any mark or symbol like that on my body.”
On Monday (April 27), Justin Rohrwasser explained what he believed the tattoo meant in an interview with CBS Boston. “It was described to me as the percentage of colonists that rose up against the government of the British. I was like ‘Wow, that is such an American sentiment. A Patriotic sentiment.’ Coming from a military family, I thought that really spoke to me. I always was proud to be an American. I’m very proud to be an American.”
“We were celebrating and hugging [Saturday]. So happy,” he said. “I went on to Twitter. I saw that someone had taken a picture of me and put it with my tattoo and linking me to some horrific events. Obviously Charlottesville, and these horrible things.” Later, Rohrwasser apologized to his loved ones who have been vehemently defending his character. “I’m going to learn from this. I’m going to take ownership of it. This is not who I am. No matter what, that’s not who I am. Hopefully, you will all find that out.” Watch Justin Rohrwasser speak with CBS Boston below.
