It has come to light that Olympic athlete Gwen Berry is sponsored by a ‘defund the police’ advocate group.
Gwen Berry, the Olympic hammer thrower who faced backlash from the nation for turning her back on the U.S. flag while the national anthem was being played, is sponsored by Color of Change, a far-left organization that sternly supports the ‘defund the police’ movement.
Color of Change praised Berry’s “leadership” on Tuesday in the wake of widespread criticism for her recent actions.
“We’re proud to sponsor [Berry], to have negotiated a sponsorship with @PUMA and to continue to push corporations to support Black athletes who speak out for our communities. Grateful for Gwen’s leadership today and every day,” they wrote on social media.
“Thank you Color of Change for always standing with me,” Berry replied.
We're proud to sponsor @MzBerryThrows, to have negotiated a sponsorship with @PUMA and to continue to push corporations to support Black athletes who speak out for our communities. Grateful for Gwen's leadership today and every day. https://t.co/Ljy1hveWro
— ColorOfChange (@ColorOfChange) June 29, 2021
Color of Change is firmly standing by their calls for “dismantling” the police.
The group’s president, Rashad Robinson, said recently:
“Policing is a violent institution that must end. We imagine a country where there is enough money to educate our children, care for our sick and feed those who are financially unstable. Defunding the police allows for this vision.”
The group is also petitioning to defund the police at both local and national levels.
IM SICK & TIRED OF THE DISRESPECT
A US hammer thrower Gwen Berry turned away from the American flag as the national anthem played
If America is so bad and racist how did this black woman make it to the US Olympics ? Ungrateful
RAISE YOUR ✋ HAND IF YOU AGREE pic.twitter.com/A9bfBIldlo
— Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) June 29, 2021
Berry said she was “set-up” after the national anthem started playing during her medal ceremony in the U.S. Olympic track and field trials last weekend at which time she turned her back to the national flag before covering her face with a piece of clothing.
“I feel like it was a set-up, and they did it on purpose. I was pissed, to be honest.”
DeAnna Price and Brooke Andersen – who won gold and silver at the competition – faced the flag with their right hands over their chest while Berry turned away and eventually picked up a black T-shirt with the words “Activist Athlete” printed on the front.
Sen. Tom Cotton wants Gwen Berry off US Olympic team over anthem protest https://t.co/zZD71hGRA2 pic.twitter.com/K73KyntWh4
— New York Post (@nypost) June 29, 2021
A spokesperson for USA Track and Field disputed her ludicrous claim that it was a set up.
“The national anthem was scheduled to play at 5:20 p.m. today. We didn’t wait until the athletes were on the podium for the hammer throw awards. The national anthem is played every day according to a previously published schedule.”
Gwen Berry was it systemic racism that made you come in third at the trials boo, or are you like @Kaepernick7 and just not as good as you think you are🤷🏾♀️
— Lavern Spicer (@lavern_spicer) June 28, 2021
Berry had previously been sanctioned by the U.S. Olympic Committee after she raised her fist during the national anthem at the 2019 Pan-Am Games.
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