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Falcons, Lions link arms during national anthem

Grady Jarrett and Dontari Poe take a knee during the playing of the national anthem prior to the start of the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 24, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
Grady Jarrett and Dontari Poe take a knee during the playing of the national anthem prior to the start of the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 24, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
By Maghen Moore
Sept 24, 2017

Before kickoff of the Lions and Falcons game, both teams stood linking arms on the sidelines to “celebrate [our] differences,” the announcer said before Rico LaVelle sang the national anthem.

Photos: Falcons show solidarity during National Anthem

Falcons’ owner Arthur Blank linked arms with Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman on the sidelines. Detroit Lions’ owner, Martha Firestone Ford, stood with her arms linked with the players.

LaVelle, the Detroit-native singer, waited until the end of the national anthem to kneel. Twitter reacted to the teams and artist:

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