Gwen Berry turns away from national flag at trials, says it’s a “set up”

Track and field athlete Gwendolyn Berry, who specializes in the hammer throw, said that playing the national anthem post her finish at third place felt like a “set up”.

Recalling the event Berry said, “I feel like they did that on purpose.”

When the national anthem began playing unexpectedly while she was on the podium, she turned her face away from the American flag and placed a T-shirt that read “Activist Athlete” over her head.

Berry justified her action claiming it was to draw attention to systematic racism and police brutality in the United States.

As opposed to Berry’s claims of a “set up”, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee told USA TODAY that the anthem was scheduled to play at 5:20 p.m. local time regardless of who was on the podium.

Commenting on Berry’s action, one congressman said Berry and other athletes who engage in such demonstrations should be kicked off Team USA.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) said in an appearance on Fox News that “We don’t need any more activist athletes. She should be removed from the team. The entire point of the Olympic team is to represent the United States of America. It’s the entire point.”

Berry posted a picture on Twitter the day after securing a spot in the Tokyo games. She wrote, “Stop playing with me.”

https://twitter.com/MzBerryThrows/status/1409213201967849480

There are speculations that Berry may pull off a similar demonstration at the Olympic games.

Speaking on her actions Berry said, “Sports is entertainment. But my purpose and my voice and my mission are bigger than the sport. So me being able to represent my communities and my people, and those who have died at the hands of police brutality, those who have died (due) to this systemic racism – I feel like that’s the important part.”