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Watch Matt Dumba’s powerful speech as he becomes the first NHL player to kneel during anthem (VIDEO)

By Scott Rogust

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 01: Malcolm Subban #30 of the Chicago Blackhawks and Darnell Nurse #25 of the Edmonton Oilers place their hands on Mathew Dumba of the Minnesota Wild during the national anthem of the United States before the Game One of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 01, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta.Dumba spoke before the game about the NHL's support of Black Lives Matter and ending racism. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 01: Malcolm Subban #30 of the Chicago Blackhawks and Darnell Nurse #25 of the Edmonton Oilers place their hands on Mathew Dumba of the Minnesota Wild during the national anthem of the United States before the Game One of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 01, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta.Dumba spoke before the game about the NHL's support of Black Lives Matter and ending racism. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images) /
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Matt Dumba takes a knee to combat systemic racism 

This past week, we’ve seen MLB and NBA players take a knee in solidarity during the United States national anthem to fight against systemic racism and police brutality. The NHL has taken some flak for their rather minimal effort in the battle for human rights, as players during exhibition games stood during the anthem with their arms locked in unison. The league’s lack of action caught the gleeful attention of those against kneeling during the anthem (i.e. Eric Trump), but the NHL stepped up in a huge way on Saturday.

Prior to the Chicago Blackhawks-Edmonton Oilers qualifying round, Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba spoke on behalf of the Hockey Diversity Alliance to condemn racism in hockey and American society. During the United States national anthem, Dumba took a knee with Blackhawks goaltender Malcolm Subban and Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse standing by his side with their hands on his shoulders.

https://twitter.com/theScore/status/1289646546020003841

Dumba gives powerful speech a day before Wild’s qualifying round matchup

You have to give credit to Dumba, as he showed tremendous courage. He didn’t read from a teleprompter or a piece of paper. Instead, Dumba spoke from the heart about a cause that means so much to him, just a day before the Wild’s qualifying round matchup against the Vancouver Canucks.

Dumba is part of the HDA, founded by San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane and former NHL forward Akim Aliu, “to eradicate racism and intolerance in hockey.” The formation of the organization occurred back in June, following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. Other members of the Hockey Diversity Alliance include Buffalo Sabres forward Wayne Simmonds, Detroit Red Wings defenseman Trevor Daley, Philadelphia Flyers forward Chris Stewart and former NHL winger Joel Ward.

Many individuals who are against kneeling decried former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick from doing the same thing in 2016. While they said Kaepernick was “disrespecting the flag,” they fail to understand that he got the idea from former NFL player and U.S. Army Green Beret Nate Boyer, who said kneeling was the best way to both respect the flag and raise awareness about systemic racism and police brutality.

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Dumba and other star athletes are using their right to freedom of expression to ensure that all African Americans can be treated equally in society. With Dumba standing up for what he believes in, this could potentially open the door for more NHL players joining him in the fight for racial equality.

Kudos to Dumba.

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