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VP Pence leaves Colts-49ers game after anthem protests

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (AP): Vice President Mike Pence has left the 49ers-Colts game after about a dozen San Francisco players took a knee.

The former Indiana governor flew in so he could watch Peyton Manning’s jersey retirement ceremony on Sunday. Manning will become the first Indianapolis-era player in Colts history to have his number retired and will also be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor.

But Pence didn’t stick around long.

Pence said on Twitter : “I left today’s Colts game because @POTUS and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem.”

The White House also issued a statement from Pence, in which he says Americans should rally around the flag. Pence said: “I don’t think it’s too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem.”

Pence is a noted sports fan and it’s second major event he’s attended in his home state since taking office in January. He also attended May’s Indianapolis 500, a family tradition.

But Pence couldn’t come to Manning’s statue unveiling Saturday afternoon, which was attended by a number of luminaries including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Instead, Pence spent most of Saturday honoring victims of the Las Vegas shooting before returning to his home state.

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2 comments

Buck October 10, 2017 at 3:44 pm

While it’s the NFL and players right NOT to honor the American flag, our Soldiers, and the National Anthem it’s also our right not to patronize their games and buy their merchandise as well as their sponsors. Send a strong message this will not be tolerated.

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Denise B. October 10, 2017 at 5:51 pm

If it is all about equality…then why did the NFL players, coaches and owners not stand up (kneel) when kapernick kneeled last year. They hung him out to dry and let him take the brunt of criticism on his own. Not until this year did the players take a knee. I believe that this a political ploy at this point in time. If they TRUELY SUPPORTED the cause they would have stood behind kapernick last year.

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