Their first home game of the 2016 NBA preseason kicked off in a notable fashion for the Sacramento Kings on Monday night [October 10]. Fans were taking to the seats of the new Golden 1 Center for the first time ever, and eager to watch their team take on Israel's Maccabi Haifa B.C. But before the international exhibition tipped off, there was the business of honoring the National Anthem, and singer Leah Tysse sang it tall and proud, until the song's final line, when she took a knee in solidarity with protests around the country.
“Taking a knee felt like the most patriotic thing I could do," Tysse wrote, in a statement posted to Facebook, on her decision to kneel. "I cannot idly stand by as black people are unlawfully profiled, harassed and killed by our law enforcement over and over without a drop of accountability.”
Tysse might be a singer by trade, but as a citizen, she has been active in causes for social justice and humanitarian causes before. One of her areas of focus is advocacy on behalf of cancer research, with her being a part of KFBK's 31 Days breast cancer series. Although interviews done with various fans indicate that the reaction to her demonstration was mixed, she did receive a cheer following the powerful performance.
After the game, the Sacramento Kings organization released a statement that read: "We respect the personal decision of Leah Tysse to exercise her freedom of speech."
Source: twitter.com