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Anthem singer takes a knee at NBA game

Justine Skye felt "uneasy" singing the US national anthem.

Justine Skye felt "uneasy" singing the US national anthem. Photo: AAP

An American singer’s decision to take a knee after singing the national anthem at a New York basketball game has once again reignited the controversy over the growing anti-racism movement.

Justine Skye, 22, performed the national anthem at the commencement of an NBA match between the Brooklyn Nets and the Orlando Magic at New York’s Barclays Centre on Saturday (AEDT).

But as she finished singing The Star-Spangled Banner, Ms Skye knelt on one knee before the crowd, earning both cheers and boos.

She posted the footage of her defiant move on Instagram, writing: “Was pretty uneasy about singing the anthem and probably won’t ever be invited to sing it again but I had to take a knee for the opening game in my city and let my voice be heard.”

Ms Skye’s protest received a mixed reaction – with some of her 1.2 million followers praising her for her bravery, while others said she was “disrespectful”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BafTzNhFPJg/?taken-by=justineskye

The ‘take a knee’ movement began in America’s National Football League as a response to police brutality against black Americans, kicked off in September 2016 by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people, and people of color,” Kaepernick said at the time.

Soon, more athletes across a number of sports joined the protest as a show of support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

More recently, taking a knee has become an act of protest against President Donald Trump after he said athletes who refused to stand for the anthem should be fired.

“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b**** off the field right now, out, he’s fired. He’s fired,’” Mr Trump said last month.

This spurned further reaction, with NBA star Steph Curry refusing an invitation to meet Mr Trump at the White House, prompting Mr Trump to disinvite him.

On October 8, US Vice-President Mike Pence walked out of a game between the Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers when players kneeled during the anthem.

Mr Trump later tweeted he had instructed Mr Pence to walk out should such protest occur.

“I don’t think it’s too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem. I stand with President Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our Flag and our National Anthem,” Mr Pence said.

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