Stevie Wonder: ‘Tonight I’m Taking a Knee for America’

Stevie Wonder appeared to align himself with athletes kneeling in protest of the National Anthem during an appearance at Saturday's Global Citizen Festival in New York.

The soul star said warned that "rhetoric is dangerous -- whether it be from a superpower in North America or a superpower in North Korea."

"Our spirits must be in the right place," Wonder said. "All the time. Not just now, but tomorrow and whenever you -- whenever you -- whenever you need to interrupt hate, stand down bigotry, condemn sexism and find love for all of our global brothers and sisters every day." 

"Tonight I'm taking a knee for America," he said, while taking a knee alongside his son. 

Here's a transcript of his pre-performance comments: 

"You know what? I first of all want to give our praise to God for -- I know that he's smiling as we celebrate all global citizens. Now what does global citizen mean? It means that all of us are important and are valuable. And we must take care of each other. And this planet. If we don't, we could lose the ultimate video game of life. Rhetoric is dangerous. Whether it be from a superpower in North America or a superpower in North Korea. What we do now is how we work toward a planet that can save and serve our lives and protect our future. 

"Now spiritually some might say that the all mighty is giving us a warning for how we must appreciate life for it is only through life. That we can make life happen for ourselves and each other. Our global brothers and sisters, I didn't come here to preach. But I'm telling you, our spirits must be in the right place. All the time. Not just now, but tomorrow and whenever you -- whenever you -- whenever you need to interrupt hate, stand down bigotry, condemn sexism and find love for all of our global brothers and sisters every day. 

"Tonight I'm taking a knee for America.

[Cheers and applause]

"But not just one knee. I'm taking both knees. Both knees in prayer for our planet, our future. Our leaders of the world and our globe, amen. I wanted to say that prayer before I serve you my musical mill. Is that okay?"

[Cheers and applause ]