Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf: ‘I lost millions because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut’

The United States of America was born from protest: the country’s roots grew from dissent. Yet, today, social protest is often looked upon with disdain, even as selfish. If any evidence is needed, just look at how Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel for the national anthem effectively cost him his NFL career. While the fallout from Kaepernick’s actions became an international talking point, it wasn’t at all unsurprising. Especially if you were to ask former NBA player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who, 20 years before Kaepernick, himself began to protest oppression and tyranny during the national anthem – and also suffered the consequences.

“When I first heard [of Kaepernick kneeling], immediately I ended up sending – I didn’t have access to him, so I sent something on social media saying, ‘I’m with you 1,000%’” Abdul-Rauf tells the Guardian. “But my mind was – he’s getting ready to get it, right? Because history shows that any time an athlete, particularly a Black athlete, says something like that, whether it’s Muhammad Ali or Tommie Smith and John Carlos, you’re going to be ridiculed and condemned for it.”

Without even speaking to Kaepernick, Abdul-Rauf knew the retribution would be swift and comprehensive. Indeed, Abdul-Rauf “wasn’t surprised” when Kaepernick soon found himself out of the league and gone from the NFL. Because on 12 March 1996, Abdul-Rauf, himself, was suspended by the NBA for refusing to stand for the national anthem. He was also fined nearly $32,000 for the single game he missed by then-NBA commissioner David Stern. While he had support from some players like Denver Nuggets teammate Jalen Rose and former LSU teammate Shaquille O’Neal, Abdul-Rauf was widely admonished, including by Chicago Bulls coach Phil