Updated at 1:50 p.m. Thursday with LeBron James calling the moment “must watch.”
WASHINGTON — The culture clash over NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem has hit the Senate race in Texas, where Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s defense of the protests has drawn viral attention — and a sharp rebuke from incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz.
Celebrities and sports figures as renowned as LeBron James have lauded O’Rourke for his willingness to stand up for the players, who face ongoing criticism from President Donald Trump and others on the right.
The moment occurred at an Aug. 10 town hall event in Houston.
A man who identified himself as a veteran from a family of veterans told the congressman that he is deeply offended when football players take a knee as the “Star-Spangled Banner” is played before each game. He asked if O’Rourke agreed.
“My short answer is no, I don’t think it’s disrespectful,” the El Paso Democrat replied. “Reasonable people can disagree on this issue — let’s begin there. And it makes them no less American for them to come down on a different conclusion.”
He then invoked the nonviolent civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King Jr., noting that players started the protests to call attention to police brutality involving unarmed black men, women and children.
“So, nonviolently, peacefully, while the eyes of this country are watching these games, they take a knee to bring our attention and our focus to this problem to ensure that we fix it,” O’Rourke said. “That is why they are doing it. And I can think of nothing more American than to peacefully stand up, or take a knee, for your rights, anytime, anywhere, in any place.”
The crowd applauded and cheered. Video of the exchange has been watched online more than 13 million times, mostly in the last few days.
On Thursday, basketball great LeBron James weighed in, calling the “candid thoughtful words” a “must watch!!!”
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