Ravens announce new national anthem performer after Joey Odoms resigns
The Baltimore Ravens were forced to make new plans for the performing of the national anthem at M&T Bank Stadium after their anthem singer resigned this week, and they announced those plans on Thursday.
Before Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens will host three singers from the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band.
A vocal trio from the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band will perform the National Anthem before Sunday’s game.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 28, 2017
Joey Odoms, a military veteran who had performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” for the Ravens since 2014, wrote a post on Facebook Tuesday explaining that he no longer feels like he should be singing the national anthem in front of thousands of fans.
“The people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting at the Ravens organization have been nothing but nice to me, however the tone/actions of a large number of NFL fans in the midst of our country’s cultural crisis, have convinced me that I do not belong there,” Odoms wrote. “Someone once told me to always ‘go where you’re welcomed.’ This is not an emotional reaction to recent events, rather an ethical decision that part of me regrets but my core knows is the right choice.”
National anthem protests were extremely widespread across the NFL last weekend after Donald Trump encouraged NFL owners to fire any players who kneel. Trump proved with his latest remarks on Thursday that he is going to continue to fuel the fire.
