Bucs’ Mike Evans Apologizes for National Anthem Sit-In

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans intends to stand tall when the National Anthem plays during the team’s Nov. 20 match against the Kansas City Chiefs.

That news comes on the heels of Evans’ decision to sit during the National Anthem at last Sunday’s game between the Bucs and Chicago Bears. Evans told reporters following the game, which was the Bucs’ annual post-Veterans Day Salute to Service game, his motivations were political.

Evans cited the election of Republican Donald Trump as the reason behind his protest. He questioned how a reality star can be the president. “It’s not about the Republican Party or the Democrat Party,” he said during a post-game interview. “I’m not going to stand for something I don’t believe in.”

Evans initially vowed to sit during the National Anthem until Trump is no longer president elect.

Then the backlash came – a lot of it.

See Also: Bucs’ Mike Evans Draws Jeers, Cheers for Anti-Trump Anthem Sit-In

State Sen. Jack Latvala on Monday publicly denounced Evans’ actions. He also promised to boycott Bucs games “until Evans either apologies or is no longer on the team.”

Others took to Twitter to show both support and disdain for Evans’ decision to sit.

A statement from Evans was posted on Twitter by several media outlets Tuesday, Nov. 15. In the statement, Evans apologized to “U.S. military members, their families, and the fans who I offended by my actions on Sunday.” He also said he has “tremendous respect for the men and women who serve our country.”

Evans went on to explain he has strong feelings about some of the issues facing the country and said he chose to “sit as an expression of my frustration towards this year’s election.”

He went on to say he would not sit again during the National Anthem. “I want to focus my efforts on finding more effective ways to communicate my message and bring about change by supporting organizations and movements that fight for equal rights for minorities.”

Trump’s win in the Nov. 8 election against Democrat Hillary Clinton sparked immediate backlash across the country. Protests against Trump’s win have sprung up from coast to coast. While most have been peaceful, such as those in Tampa and St. Petersburg, the same cannot be said for all. Gatherings in Oregon have been categorized as riots by police. An anti-Trump protester was reportedly shot in Portland over the weekend, as well.

Reports of attacks on minorities have also come in since the days of Trump’s election. One of two rallies in Metro Detroit Friday was in response to a Wednesday incident in a Royal Oak Middle School cafeteria that left some minority students afraid for their safety.

Students began chanting “build the wall” — the same refrain chanted at Trump campaign rallies in response to his call for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border — and a video of the disturbance was subsequently viewed on social media. School officials strongly denounced the incident as outside the district’s core values.

In Hillsborough County, investigators were looking into a Monday morning arson that might be anti-Trump-related. A vacant mobile home was set ablaze while two nearby homes were spray painted with graffiti. One of the vandalized homes reportedly had the words "F--- Trump. Burn Everything” spray painted on it. “BLM,” which is thought to stand for Black Lives Matter, was also found on the home along with an arrow that pointed to the home that had been set afire, according to several media outlets.

Trump appeared on "60 Minutes" Sunday night, imploring people for calm. "Don't be afraid," he said. "We are going to bring our country back. But certainly, don't be afraid." To those harassing minorities, he said "Stop it."

Patch editor Mike Lello contributed to this story.

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