Face-to-Face with Olympian Feyisa Lilesa and the NFL's Weekend of Dissent

Edge of Sports

When Feyisa Lilesa crossed won silver at the 2016 Olympics, he raised his arms in an X formation, a symbol of solidarity with the Oromo Liberation struggle in his home of Ethiopia. We speak to Lilesa about why he fears for his life, who he holds dear as his athletic heroes and what message he has for Colin Kaepernick and USA athletes using their platform to speak out for social change. We also have choice words about the weekend of 9/11, national anthem protest in the NFL. We also have choice words about everyone who says that they support Colin Kaepernick but just "disapprove" of his methods. Finally a Just Stand Up award to Michael Oppong, a football player at Doherty Memorial High School in Worcester, Massachusetts who knelt during the national anthem despite the ire of his coach.Zirins ’Choice Words’ columns in The Nation: “Colin Kaepernick Is Winning” https://www.thenation.com/article/colin-kaepernick-is-winning/“Solidarity With Kaepernick Ripples Through the NFL on September 11” https://www.thenation.com/article/the-nfl-protest-you-didnt-hear-about-on-sunday/Feyisa Lilesa GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/2kykuuxs—http://edgeofsportspodcast.com | http://twitter.com/edgeofsports | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: [e-mail]—music: “What’s My Name” DMX (Self Service production) | “Fayyisaa Leellisaa" by Ittiiqaa Tafarii | “Ruff Ryders Anthem” DMX (Swizz Beats production) | “Come Clean” by Jeru the Damaja (DJ Premier production) | Scarface “Guess Who’s Back?” (Kanye West production)
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