Stevie Wonder Takes a Knee at Global Citizen Festival ‘for America’
Stevie Wonder stood in solidarity with more than 100 NFL players and team owners yesterday (September 25) when he took a knee to protest police brutality during a performance at the Global Citizen Festival in New York City.
Wonder, who closed out the show series in front of a crowd of more than 60,000, said he felt compelled to make the gesture as an American who was concerned about racial injustices. Colin Kaepernick was the first to start the movement when he sat during a performance of the National Anthem before a game in 2016, noting "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way," according to NFL.com.
"Tonight I'm taking a knee for America," Wonder says in the clip above. "But not just one knee, both knees. Both knees in prayer for our planet, our future, our leaders of the world and our globe. Amen. I wanted to say that prayer before I serve you my musical meal. Is that OK?" he asked.
He continued. "We could lose at the ultimate video game of life," Wonder told the crowd. "I didn't come here to preach. But I'm telling you, our spirits must be in the right place. All the time, not just now. Whenever you need to, [you must] interrupt hate, stand down bigotry, condemn sexism and find love for all our global brothers and sisters every day."
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