Raptors fans become latest to boo American national anthem as trade war heats up
Fans at Scotiabank Arena loudly booed during the American national anthem before the Toronto Raptors hosted the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
They then switched to loud cheers when "O Canada" began.
Fans of the NBA's lone Canadian franchise booed the anthem after similar reactions broke out Saturday night at NHL games in Ottawa and Calgary, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump made his threat of import tariffs on Canada a reality.
The US anthem gets booed at the Raptors game. Never seen this before. <a href="https://t.co/HDipiMs9fW">pic.twitter.com/HDipiMs9fW</a>
The strong reactions to both national anthems was likely in response to a mounting trade war between Canada and the United States.
Joseph Chua, a Toronto resident who was at the game, said he's going to be feeling the tariffs "pretty directly" in his work as an importer.
Still, he said he doesn't think booing is "the right thing to do in this situation." He chose to stay seated instead.
"I have a bunch of American family, friends that live in the states that are Americans, we travel to America all the time, but I thought chanting, `Canada,' would be a more appropriate stance," said Chua, who was deliberately wearing his red Canada Basketball cap. "Usually I will stand. I've always stood during both anthems. I've taken my hat off to show respect to the American national anthem, but today we're feeling a little bitter about things.
"We were already talking about what businesses are Canadian, specifically, what are American, specifically, what to avoid. When I go grocery shopping, I will definitely be trying to avoid American products and groceries."
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Fans also sang along with