Stevie Wonder Interrupts Concert To 'Take A Knee' For America

Carla Herreria
Updated

Stevie Wonder just expressed his solidarity with Colin Kaepernick’s protests against police brutality and racial injustice against black people.

Before performing at the annual Global Citizen Festival in New York City on Saturday night, the 67-year-old music legend took the stage and then took a knee, mimicking a gesture of protest first used by Kaepernick, a former San Francisco 49er quarterback, during national anthems.

“Tonight, I’m taking a knee for America,” Wonder said to the audience.

“But not just one knee, I’m taking both knees, both knees in prayer for our planet, our future, our leaders of the world and our globe. Amen.”

Wonder is the latest celebrity figure to show his solidarity with Kaepernick. President Donald Trump on Friday took aim at Kaepernick’s kneeling protest when he called for National Football League fans to boycott games if a player does not participate in the national anthem. He also called for NFL team owners to fire any player who protests during the games.

Trump doubled down on those attacks Saturday when he suggested on Twitter that professional athletes who have “the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL or other leagues” should not be allowed to exercise their constitutional right to protest.

Hours earlier on Twitter, the president rescinded NBA star Stephen Curry’s invitation to the White House after Curry revealed he would not be accepting it.

Trump’s tweets, and his apparently new focus on black professional athletes, caused a roar of reactions from the sports world.

Commissioners for both the NBA and the NFL expressed their disappointment in Trump’s rhetoric against the protesting athletes, while many team owners, coaches and players celebrated Kaepernick and the right to take a stand against racial injustice.

Before performing at the Global Citizen Festival, an annual show that encourages ticket holders to engage in philanthropy that will better the world, Wonder made a call for unity and encouraged people to “stand down bigotry,” “condemn sexism” and “find love,” according to Deadline.

“It is only through life we can make life happen through ourselves and each other.” Wonder said to the crowd. “Our global brothers and sisters, I didn’t come here to preach, but I’m telling you, our spirits must be in the right place all the time.”

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Protesters gather in Freedom Plaza before a march to the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
A protester stands in Freedom Plaza before the march against police violence.
A protester stands in Freedom Plaza before the march against police violence.
Young protesters hold signs in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
Young protesters hold signs in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
A protester in Freedom Plaza that Saturday.
A protester in Freedom Plaza that Saturday.
Protesters in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters gather in Freedom Plaza for the march to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Protesters gather in Freedom Plaza for the march to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Protesters in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol.
Protesters pose for a photo in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters pose for a photo in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol.
Protesters head toward the U.S. Capitol.
Protesters head toward the U.S. Capitol.
Protesters rally in the nation's capital on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters rally in the nation's capital on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters in Washington on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters in Washington on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters rally in Washington on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters rally in Washington on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters in Freedom Plaza on Dec, 13, 2014.
Protesters in Freedom Plaza on Dec, 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
Georgetown Law students protest at Freedom Plaza that Saturday.
Georgetown Law students protest at Freedom Plaza that Saturday.
Protesters in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters gather in Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C.
Protesters gather in Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C.
Protesters gather in Freedom Plaza before marching to the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters gather in Freedom Plaza before marching to the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
Al Sharpton speaks to protesters gathered in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
Al Sharpton speaks to protesters gathered in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
Samaria Rice, mother of Tamir Rice, speaks to people gathered in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
Samaria Rice, mother of Tamir Rice, speaks to people gathered in Freedom Plaza on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol.
Protesters march toward the U.S. Capitol.
Filmmaker Spike Lee participates in a march on the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
Filmmaker Spike Lee participates in a march on the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 13, 2014.
Protesters march down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.
Protesters march down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.

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