<P> Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg criticized the protest as "dumb and disrespectful", stating that athletes have the right to protest "if they want to be stupid". The Supreme Court later issued a statement from Ginsburg stating that her comments were "inappropriately dismissive and harsh . I should have declined to respond ." </P> <P> On September 25, 2017, U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee knelt on the floor of the House of Representatives . Fellow congressman Mark Pocan knelt on the floor of the House the next day . </P> <P> On September 26, 2017, Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser told The Times - Picayune that he would not be attending the New Orleans Saints game against the Miami Dolphins, which was going to be taking place in London . Although he was going to be in London during the time of the game, he told the newspaper that he would not attend because he was "disappointed in the NFL ." He added that "it is disgraceful that anybody would use that as a time to protest ." </P> <P> On October 8, 2017, Vice President Mike Pence left a game between the NFL's Indianapolis Colts and the San Francisco 49ers, members of which had knelt during the anthem, "because President Trump and I will not dignify any event that disrespects our soldiers, our Flag, or our National Anthem ." </P>

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