Gwen Berry Says She’s ‘Earned The Right To Wear This Uniform’ After Turning Her Back On National Anthem

Gwen Berry, the hammer thrower who infamously turned her back during the national anthem last month at the Olympic trials, claimed over the weekend that she is proud to wear the uniform representing the United States.

Berry Claims She ‘Earned The Right To Wear This Uniform’

“I feel like I’ve earned the right to wear this uniform,” Berry, 31, said on Sunday, according to Daily Mail. 

This came one day after Berry passed through her qualifying round in Tokyo.

The final is on Tuesday, which is when the world will see whether or not Berry makes it onto the podium, and has a chance to protest against America again.

Berry went on to say that she is indeed hoping to make it onto the podium.

“I’ll represent the oppressed people,” she said. “That’s been my message for the last three years.”

However, there are those who don’t agree with her.

Berry also claimed that she is not listening to the haters who are offended that she is publicly disrespecting our country so blatantly with her actions.

“I’m just focused on what I need to do,” the athlete said. “Because all those people who hate me, they aren’t here. So they can’t affect me.”

Back Story: Hammer Thrower Gwen Berry Protests National Anthem At US Olympic Trials

Berry’s Initial Protest

Berry made headlines at the end of June when she turned her back during the national anthem and put a T-shirt that read “Activist Athlete” over her face.

She said afterwards that she thought officials “set her up” by playing the anthem and that she wouldn’t have gone to the podium if she was told beforehand that it would be played.

Here’s a video of her turning away from the American flag at the Olympic trials.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) fired back afterwards by saying that Berry should be removed from the Olympic team.

“The entire point of the Olympic team is to represent the United States of America,” he said. “It’s the entire point. It’s one thing when these NBA players do it, OK we’ll just stop watching. But now the Olympics Team?”

Related: North Korean Defector Yeonmi Park Has A Sobering Message For Olympian Gwen Berry

Berry Fires Back

Berry fired back on Instagram, saying, “I said what I said… I meant what I said.. STOP PLAYING WITH ME!! PERIOD!”

“I never said I hated this country!” she later added on Twitter. “People try to put words in my mouth but they can’t. That’s why I speak out. I LOVE MY PEOPLE.”

“These comments really show that: 1.) people in American rally patriotism over basic morality. 2.) Even after the murder of George Floyd and so many others; the commercials, statements, and phony sentiments regarding black lives were just a hoax,” Berry continued. 

We can only watch and see what Berry does if she makes it to the podium tomorrow. Will she disrespect our country on the international stage?

Contrary to what Berry may believe herself, she does not deserve to wear our uniform and represent America at the Olympics. 

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