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Sporting Witness: Protesting against the US National Anthem

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Protesting the US National Anthem

02/06/2022 GMT

Protesting against the US National Anthem

BBC World Service - Sporting Witness, Protesting against the US National Anthem

NBA star Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf refused to stand for the American flag in protest in 1996

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was a talented basketball player in the NBA. But in 1996, he refused to stand for the American flag and the national anthem at the start of games.

In 1996 Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was one of the most promising and talented basketball players in the NBA. That was before he stopped standing with his teammates when American flag was raised and the national anthem played at the start of each game. Uma Doraiswamy spoke to him and heard how his meteoric rise was cut short because of his principles.

Photo: Mahmoud Abdul Rauf at a game in March 1996 (Getty Images)

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