Stevie Wonder performed the national anthem on his knees

“Feel me, feel me, Mr. President.”

October 23, 2017
Stevie Wonder performed the national anthem on his knees Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images  

During a appearance on Sunday night, Stevie Wonder performed the national anthem on both knees. The legend closed out the 2017 Formula 1 Grand Prix in Austin, Texas with his performance — the second time he’s taken a knee in the past month.

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Videos from the nearly two-hour performance show Wonder situating himself on both knees before playing the national anthem on his harmonica. According to the Daily Dot, earlier in the show the musician made a call for unity.

“It is time for the leader of this nation, the leaders in the varied political positions that they hold, the people, we as artists—all of us come together as a united people of these United States of America,” he said.

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The symbol of taking a knee during the national anthem stems from Colin Kaepernick’s public protest against police brutality last year. After the NFL received criticism from President Donald Trump, athletes and teams across the franchise kneeled in protest of the president’s statements. Stevie Wonder first kneeled following Trump’s statements last month.

“In the home of the United States, or the united people of America—not some but all,” he said Sunday night. “Feel me, feel me, Mr. President.”

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Stevie Wonder performed the national anthem on his knees