US Vice-President Pence walks out of NFL game after players kneel during anthem

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Vice-President Mike Pence, front centre, stands during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in Indianapolis. Photo: AP

Published: 1:15pm, 9 Oct 2017Updated: 2:25pm, 9 Oct 2017

US Vice-President Mike Pence walked out of a National Football League game on Sunday after some players knelt during the national anthem, a form of demonstration that began last year in silent protest against police violence toward racial minorities.

Pence was attending a game in his home state of Indiana between the Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers.

When the national anthem was played before the start of the game, some 49ers knelt while some Colts, their arms locked, wore black T-shirts with the words “We Will” on the front and “Stand for equality, justice, unity, respect, dialogue, opportunity” on the back.

Members of the San Francisco 49ers kneel during the playing of the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in Indianapolis. Photo: AP

“I left today’s Colts game because President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem,” Pence said in a statement issued by the White House.

US President Donald Trump said in a tweet on Sunday that he had asked Pence to leave the stadium “if any player kneeled, disrespecting our country.”

Neither the White House nor Pence’s office responded to requests for comment about whether the White House had planned Pence’s departure in advance. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy declined to comment.