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Stevie Wonder Kneels in Apparent Support of Peaceful Protestors

"Tonight, I’m taking a knee for America," Wonder said during a performance in Central Park.
Image via screenshot

Stevie Wonder knelt down on stage Saturday night at the Global Citizens Festival in New York's Central Park, mirroring the peaceful protests of sportspeople across the United States—and particularly in the NFL—who oppose white supremacy and police brutality.

"Tonight, I'm taking a knee for America," Wonder said, lowering himself to the stage floor with the help of his son, Kwame Morris. "But not just one knee—I'm taking both knees. Both knees in prayer for our planet, our future, our leaders of the world, and our globe."

The gesture came after a weekend in which Trump referred to NFL players who have taken a knee during the national anthem as "sons of bitches" and called for them to be disciplined by and fired from their teams. Trump's comments were immediately condemned: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said that Trump's comments were "divisive"; Green Bay Packers CEO Mark Murphy called the president's remarks "offensive"; and four-time NBA MVP Lebron James called Trump a "bum."

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