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76ers apologize to snubbed anthem singer Sevyn; invite her back

76ers coach Brett Brown said his players' voices were heard.

76ers coach Brett Brown said his players' voices were heard.

They voiced displeasure in a meeting with a team representative that led to the Sixers issuing Sevyn Streeter an apology and an invitation to "perform at a game of her choice."

The singer/songwriter was slated to sing the national anthem before Wednesday's season-opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Wells Fargo Center. However, Streeter said she was told minutes before her performance that she wouldn't be able to sing because she was wearing a "We Matter" jersey.

The Sixers' contract for national anthem singers prohibits political statements. A source said Streeter was denied the opportunity to sing after she refused to wear a blazer or alternate shirt.

Most of the players weren't aware of what happened until Thursday morning. That's when they met with the team representative. His words during the 40-minute meeting didn't ease the players' disappointment over not letting Streeter sing.

"Personally, I didn't think it was right," Gerald Henderson said. "That's all I've got to say."

Added Nik Stauskas, "I think the majority of us wanted to see her get a chance to come back and sing the anthem and, whether she wanted to wear the shirt or whatever, it was we felt like we should give her that opportunity."

The players weren't the only ones disappointed. A source said the decision to not allow Streeter to sing was made by a couple of individuals - not the team as a whole. Someone within the organization said the ownership group wasn't notified before the game about the decision to not allow Streeter to sing.

So the owners had a meeting Thursday - as did the Sixers' business department - to find a way to rectify the situation and counter the negative press caused by the decision. On Friday, the team issued a statement:

"We are sorry that this happened. After receiving feedback from our players, basketball operations staff and ownership group, we believe that the wrong decision was made, and Sevyn should have been welcomed to sing. We apologize to her, and in an effort to move the conversation forward, we have reached out to offer her an opportunity to return and perform at a game of her choice. We are waiting to hear back."

The issue over the anthem has been a hot topic since San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first decided not to stand for the national anthem during the NFL preseason. He said police brutality and racial injustice, among other issues, were the reason for his protest. Many athletes have followed his lead in various ways. Several NBA teams - including the Washington Wizards, the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons - have stood with their arms locked during the anthem.

In the Sixers' final preseason game at Miami on Oct. 21, Denasia Lawrence opened her jacket while singing the national anthem. By doing so, she revealed a "Black Lives Matter" shirt before dropping to her left knee.

The team had a team meeting Thursday about other methods to make a stand.

"They are not really to share," Henderson said when asked about the specifics. "If we would come up with something, we would just do it. I wouldn't really want to share. Some of the guys talked about stuff but nothing we want to discuss."

Brown said the Sixers want to do something responsible and bold. He and the players appeared happy that the organization apologized to Streeter and offered her an opportunity to return.

"We simply want to say that we apologize," Brown said. "We made a mistake, and we want to move on."

Added Jahlil Okafor, "It is an unfortunate situation. I am happy that we are sending an invitation to bring her back to sing the anthem."

kpompey@phillynews.com

@PompeyOnSixers

philly.com/sixersblog

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