The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team wore jackets with "Black Lives Matter" emblazoned on the front in an exhibition match against the Netherlands on Friday.
Kelley O'Hara and Julie Ertz stood during the pre-game national anthem, while the other nine starting players for the U.S. knelt.
"We love our country, and it is a true honor to represent America," player Alex Morgan said on behalf of the team. "It is also our duty to demand that the liberties and freedoms that our country was founded on extend to everyone."
Morgan said the team wears Black Lives Matter "to affirm human decency ... protest against racial injustice and police brutality against Black people ... protest against the racist infrastructures."
"As the United States Women's National Team players, we collectively work toward a society where the American ideals are upheld, and Black lives are no longer systemically targeted," Morgan said.
🔦 This summer, the U.S. Soccer Federation removed a policy that required players to "stand respectfully" for the national anthem.
