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CFL players show solidarity

Backlash from U.S. President Donald Trump's comments about NFL players kneeling during the national anthem reached the Canadian Football League on Sunday.

Though players from both the Calgary Stampeders and Saskatchewan Roughriders stood for the Canadian anthem prior to their game in Regina, the Riders locked arms in a show of solidarity.

Many players voiced their support for their football brethren south of the border after Calgary's 15-9 victory.

"It's sad and it's disheartening to me as an American to see our president getting in bickering matches with people on Twitter, calling out athletes saying they should be fired," said Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell. "I'm glad we're all uniting against that and I hope we take a stand against something that is unacceptable."

Trump inflamed an already emotional and controversial issue on Friday at a rally in Alabama.

"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out, he's fired. He's fired.'" Trump said during his speech.

Trump also rescinded his invite to the NBA champion Golden State Warriors after all-star guard Steph Curry said he was not interested in visiting the White House.

Roughriders quarterback Kevin Glenn took to Twitter Saturday morning and voiced his opinion on the issue.

Glenn tweeted: "#trump is the disrecptful (sic) one, he should be fired #trumpisabean."

Riders offensive lineman Derek Dennis was one of the players that locked arms.

"We wanted to show solidarity and show that we understand what's going on back home," he said. "We didn't do this to disrespect the Canadian flag or its Armed Forces because this country has given us an opportunity to play football, the game we love. We just wanted to show our support for what is going on back home.

"Being a kid from New York City. … I was attacked by a bunch of undercover detectives who just messed with me just because they could. I've been through it and I understand what's going on."



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