Mercury’s Kelsey Bone to take anthem protests into WNBA playoffs

PHOENIX — Kelsey Bone is taking her social injustice protest to a bigger stage.

On a night when the Phoenix Mercury clinched a berth in the WNBA playoffs, the 24-year-old center kneeled during the singing of the national anthem to raise awareness of alleged racial inequality and the recent shootings by and of police officers around the country.

“This is an injustice that’s happening,” Bone said. “I think we’re just quiet about it right now and that’s something we have to change.”

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was the first to kneel during the presentation of the American flag when he did so during a preseason game last month, and has publicly stated he will continue to do so until change is made.

Bone, who was acquired by the Mercury in June, joins Kaepernick and a number of high-profile athletes from across the country, including the Denver Broncos’ Brandon Marshall, Miami Dolphins’ Arian Foster and U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s and Seattle Reign FC’s Megan Rapinoe, who have partaken in silent protests.

Bone spent a large part of her childhood with her grandparents in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a city that made national headlines twice in July. Video captured Baton Rouge police fatally shooting Alton Sterling, an unarmed black man. Less than two weeks later, a Missouri man attacked police officers in the city, leaving three wounded and three dead.

“I have cousins, …

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