Lima, Peru, is this year’s Pan American Games site. Olympic-level athletes from around the world compete in myriad events for medals. It’s an early view of who you will see in the 2020 Olympics. The U.S. has sent their best and brightest and two of those athletes have made us proud. Fencer Race Imboden and hammer thrower Gwen Berry made big silent statements this past week.
Berry, after winning the gold, raised her fist during the playing of the U.S. national anthem. She told USA Today that "Somebody has to talk about the things that are too uncomfortable to talk about. Somebody has to stand for all of the injustices that are going on in America and a president who’s making it worse. … It’s too important to not say something. Something has to be said. If nothing is said, nothing will be done, and nothing will be fixed, and nothing will be changed."
Imboden used the literal platform he and his teammates took during the foil ceremony to make his statement by way of kneeling. He told The New York Times that even though he was nervous he didn’t regret taking the knee during the national anthem. He also told The Times that he had spoken with his teammates beforehand, explaining to them his position and decision. After, he went to his social media account to explain himself further:
We must call for change.
This week I am honored to represent Team USA at the Pan Am Games, taking home Gold and Bronze. My pride however has been cut short by the multiple shortcomings of the country I hold so dear to my heart. Racism, Gun Control, mistreatment of immigrants, and a president who spreads hate are at the top of a long list. I chose to sacrifie my moment today at the top of the podium to call attention to issues that I believe need to be addressed. I encourage others to please use your platforms for empowerment and change.
Both Berry and Imboden told news outlets that they loved the United States and believed that their protests pointed to the promises of the best the United States has to offer. According to USA Today, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee say they are "reviewing what consequences may result." Spokesman for the Committee, Mark Jones released a statement that read “Every athlete competing at the 2019 Pan-American Games commits to terms of eligibility, including to refrain from demonstrations that are political in nature,” Mark Jones, a committee spokesman, said in a statement that, “In this case, Race didn’t adhere to the commitment he made to the organizing committee and the USOPC. We respect his rights to express his viewpoints, but we are disappointed that he chose not to honor his commitment.”
So far, people like Colin Kaepernick—whose refusal to stand during the playing of the national snthem started this recent form of American injustice protest—have done more to promote positive American values than Donald Trump. Of course, just not being Donald Trump or Stephen Miller or Mitch McConnell or Vladimir Putin, puts one head and shoulders into the arena of being a considerably more positive American force in the world. You can watch Gwen Berry doing a little hammer throwing below. I like to imagine Stephen Miller’s face on the end of the hammer.