Video Appears to Show Suburban House Candidate Kneeling During National Anthem
Democratic House candidate Mary Beth Canty.
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House Republicans are likely to make hay after video has surfaced showing suburban Democratic House candidate Mary Beth Canty seemingly kneeling during the national anthem at a recent athletic event.
The video, provided to The Illinoize Tuesday, appears to show Canty kneeling with a fist over her heart during while the national anthem played at a gymnastics meet. We received the raw video Tuesday, and a Republican operative sent the edited video Wednesday:
Canty is an Arlington Heights village trustee running in the new 54th House District, which includes parts of Arlington Heights, Prospect Heights, Palatine, and Buffalo Grove.
Obviously, kneeling during the national anthem became a hot button national issue after professional football player Collin Kaepernick protested during games in 2016. Canty, who has a white mother and black father, appears to be continuing the protest six years later.
House Democrats did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday evening.
A 2021 story from a community newspaper quoted Canty speaking about the American flag.
“However, they would also agree the flag of our country — that we fly very proudly — at one time in our history said I was three-fifths of a person, and my family was three-fifths of a person,” she reportedly said at the time. “Until recently, that flag also stated my brother could not marry the man he loved. Times change, and it is important we as a welcoming village — one that talks about being welcome — actually take the time to show that we are welcome, instead of just saying it.”
Canty’s Republican opponent, Michele Hunter, issued a statement attacking Canty’s positioning as a moderate.
“It’s sad to see that this in our community and that the radical progressive politics of Canty have been hidden during this campaign. Canty is not the reasonable moderate she proclaims in her messaging and people need to know this before they vote”, said Hunter.
Neither Canty or her campaign have responded to inquiries from The Illinoize.