Pro footballers have some new athletic allies in their protests against racial discrimination and police violence: German soccer players.
Bundesliga club Hertha BSC players and coaches took a knee prior to their match against Schalke as a sign of support for "tolerance and responsibility."
According to ESPN FC, the stadium's PA announcer clearly addressed the intention behind their unified demonstration.
"Berlin is colourful," the Hertha stadium announcer told the fans in attendance. "Hertha BSC stands for diversity and against violence.
Following the match, Hertha general manager Michael Preetz spoke with reporters about the club's decision to take a stand by taking a knee. "We live in times in which football clubs, who are very much in the spotlight, must work out how to position themselves, and this is in tune with the values and the philosophy of Hertha Berlin," Preetz said, per ESPN FC. "I've been here for 21 years, and we've always been against discrimination of any kind and against racism. We are Berlin. We are an open-minded city, and we stand for diversity, and that's what the team and the club wanted to stand up for today."
