US Olympian Gwen Berry faces backlash for snub of stars-and-stripes
https://nypost.com/2021/06/27/us-olympi ... d-stripes/
The “pissed” American athlete who turned away from the flag during the national anthem faced online backlash Sunday — as she doubled down on her star spangled snub.
Gwen Berry on Saturday turned toward the crowd rather than the flag before holding up a black shirt that read, “Activist Athlete” — prompting one critic to say Americans should return the favor.
“Let’s turn our backs on HER,” said Kathy Tavoularis, a California Republican operative.
“If you can’t respect the flag or anthem then you shouldn’t be allowed to complete,” posted Vic DeGrammont, a Republican congressional candidate in Florida, on Twitter.
Opinion writer Josh Jordan mocked Berry for thinking the Olympic trials are about her.
“Yes, the US Olympics committee spent their time meticulously planning to make sure that the national anthem was played at the exact moment she was on the podium… because everyone knows the Olympics is all about (checks tweet) Gwen Berry,” he said sarcastically.
“What is wrong with people?” asked former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.
“Growing up, everyone stood for the American flag,” he added. “Didn’t matter your politics, race, sex, income, religion; everyone stood for the flag. It was one of those civic rituals that brought us together. It still should today.”
Journalist David Steinberg suggested a different athlete be sent instead of Berry.
“Send the fourth-place finisher,”

he tweeted. “Gwen Berry has a world of options if she doesn’t want to compete under our flag. Not a penny of taxpayer money should fund her campaign to make Americans hate each other.”