Bucs' Mike Evans Draws Jeers, Cheers for Anti-Trump Anthem Sit-In

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans’ decision to join a growing list of NFL players who refuse to stand during the national anthem has drawn both cheers and jeers.

Evans made his position known during Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears. The post-Veterans Day game was also the Buccaneers’ annual Salute to Service game, which is meant to honor men and women in America’s armed forces.

While other NFL players have opted to take a knee, following San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s lead, to protest perceived racial inequality in the country, Evans said his motivations are not the same.

“I’m doing it for a different reason,” Evans told a group of reporters following Sunday’s 36-10 win over Chicago. His motivation: the election of Donald Trump as America’s 45th president.

Evans questioned how a reality star can be the president. “It’s not about the Republican Party or the Democrat Party,” he said. “I’m not going to stand for something I don’t believe in.” Evans also said he intends to sit during the national anthem for as long as Trump remains the president-elect.

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."

As for Evans’ sit-in, the action has ignited harsh criticism and strong support both.

State Sen. Jack Latvala, a Republican from Clearwater, responded by making a statement on Monday.

“Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans’ decision to sit during the playing of the national anthem at Sunday’s game is a slap in the face to our veterans, our active duty military, and every freedom-loving American in Tampa Bay,” Latvala said. “I am deeply offended and will not attend another Bucs game until Evans either apologizes or is no longer on the team.”

The timing of Evans’ protest especially bothered Latvla.

“On a day when our veterans were honored for their service and sacrifice to our country, Evans decided to make a political statement,” he said. “This is unacceptable.”

Some people took to Twitter to express their displeasure at Evans’ move:

Others were supportive of the wide receiver:

The Buccaneers have not made an official statement.

Patch editor Michael Lello contributed to this report.

Image via Shutterstock