U.S. soccer star goes to war with Olympics over ban on political protests

Megan Rapinoe (photo courtesy Jamie Smed / Flickr)

U.S. women's soccer player Megan Rapinoe, known for taking a knee during the American national anthem, insists she "will not be silenced" by the International Olympic Committee's ban on political protests during the summer games in Tokyo.

The Daily Wire reported Monday the IOC wants to avoid ruining the "uniting" and "neutral" stance of the games.

Rapinoe wrote on Twitter and Instagram: "So much for being done about the protests. So little being done about what we are protesting about. We will not be silenced."

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The IOC on Friday described her kind of behavior as "divisive disruption."

"We believe that the example we set by competing with the world's best while living in harmony in the Olympic Village is a uniquely positive message to send to an increasingly divided world," the world organization said in a statement.

"This is why it is important, on both a personal and a global level, that we keep the venues, the Olympic Village and the podium."

The IOC said the athletes continue to have freedom to express their personal opinions during press interviews, in meetings and on social media when on their own time.

Rapinoe launched her national anthem protest in solidarity with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick claimed, without evidence, of widespread "institutional racism" in law enforcement, charging young black men were targets of systemic policy brutality.

Rapinoe has said: "I haven't experienced over-policing, racial profiling, police brutality or the sight of a family member's body lying dead in the street. But I cannot stand idly by while there are people in this country who have had to deal with that kind of heartache."

The report pointed out that few people noticed Rapinoe's protests until the U.S. team's success in the most recent World Cup.