Riders’ quarterback Glenn says linking of arms was sign of solidarity

For Kevin Glenn, it was a chance to show family and friends south of the border that Americans in the CFL are aware of what's happening in their native land.

Glenn and his Saskatchewan Roughriders teammates and coaches linked arms Sunday during the national anthem prior to their 15-9 home loss to the Calgary Stampeders. Glenn said the gesture was a show of unity following U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial remarks about NFL players kneeling during the American anthem.

“It's not a protest,” Glenn said Monday. “We (Americans) have the luxury of coming up to this fine country and spending six months here playing football and meeting many great people. “But after that, we go back home to America so we still have to keep abreast of what's going on back there. It hits home with us because it is home. It (linking of arms) shows the solidarity of what's going on back home because we can't be there but it's also a solidarity approach to show the unified humanity aspect of it. We're people from all different walks of life, two different countries, race, colour, creed and we can get along and link arms.”

During a rally Friday, Trump stated: “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Trump also rescinded an invitation to the NBAchampion Golden State Warriors to visit the White House after allstar guard Steph Curry said he wasn't interested in attending.

On Sunday, numerous NFL players took a knee, sat, stayed in the tunnel or linked arms during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In London, Jacksonville owner Shahid Khan stood armin-arm with his players before the team's 44-7 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

But Trump has his supporters. On Sunday Tom Shepherd, the Riders' former president who now runs the team's fundraising lottery, agreed with Trump's stance during the CFL club's pre-game radio show.