​Stevie Wonder, Pharrell Williams, Roger Waters, Eddie Vedder Take a Knee

These artists and more showed their support for Colin Kaepernick and the NFL's protests of racial oppression in America

BY Sarah MurphyPublished Sep 25, 2017

NFL player Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during the American national anthem last year as an act of protest against racial oppression in the U.S. — and while he may not have been signed for the 2017 season, more than 200 athletes from the NFL (and many more from beyond) have been carrying on his powerful message by taking a knee as "The Star-Spangled Banner" plays before games.
 
Over the weekend, Donald Trump unleashed a barrage of angry, out-of-touch tweets about the peaceful protest movement, and now, a number of musicians joined the cause.
 
Stevie Wonder stole headlines at the Global Citizen Festival in New York City on Saturday (September 23), dropping down and "taking a knee for America." He reiterated the sentiment again yesterday (September 24) when he came out as a surprise guest during Dave Matthews' performance at the Charlottesville benefit show.
 
Pharrell Williams, backed by the Roots, followed the show of solidarity during his performance at the same event in Charlottesville.
 

 
Elsewhere, Roger Waters and his entire backing band, knelt across the stage during a show in Hartford last night (September 24).
 
Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder also took a knee during his set at Pilgrimage Festival in Tennessee.
 
A number of other musicians and celebrities have also lent their voices and knees to the cause. See a selection of them below.
 
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