We ❤️ the football star who speaks out for equality
WORDS BY FELICITAS SOPHIE VAN LAAK, IMAGE BY JAMIE SMED PHOTOGRAPHY VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
This year, the American football player helped win the FIFA Women’s World Cup – again. As Megan is internationally known for her activism and no bullshit attitude, here are four smashing statements you might want to write down.
1. In 2016, before the National Women’s Soccer League match between the Chicago Red Stars and Seattle Reign FC, Megan took the knee in solidarity with American football star Colin Kaepernick who has been protesting police brutality against people of colour. Though silent, this protest caused ripples.
2. Megan has been very vocal in the fight for equal pay in football and beyond. On Good Morning America, she said, “I think it’s fair for us to ask that when we play a game, and we win that game or we tie that game or we lose that game, that we should be paid the same as our male counterparts.” When being asked whether she would accept anything less, she calmly responded, “We won’t accept anything less than equal pay”.
3. After winning the game against France this June, Megan told The Guardian, “You can’t win a championship without gays on your team – it’s never been done before, ever. That’s science, right there!” Nothing to add. Go gays!
4. This July, a video of Megan stating that she wouldn’t go to the White House if the team were invited went viral. When CNN asked her if she had anything to say to the president, she said, “Your message is excluding people.” She continued to stress that Trump’s slogan, “Make America great again”, would refer to an era that was not great for most Americans. “We have a responsibility… to take care of every single person and you need to do better, for everyone.”
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