Players from the German soccer club Hertha Berlin on Saturday knelt in solidarity with NFL players protesting police brutality and racial inequality in the United States.

A statement from the team's Twitter account said that the gesture was meant as a show of unity with NFL players who have knelt during the national anthem to protest police brutality and as a call to "stand against discrimination."

"Hertha BSC stands for tolerance and responsibility," the soccer club tweeted. "For a tolerant Berlin and an open-minded world, now and forevermore!"

Hertha BSC stands for tolerance and responsibility! For a tolerant Berlin and an open-minded world, now and forevermore! #TakeAKnee #hahohe pic.twitter.com/spZvRSGVxQ — Hertha Berlin (@HerthaBSC_EN) October 14, 2017

A second picture tweeted from the account shows more players kneeling in front of the team's bench with the message "#TakeAKnee," which has been used by many in support of NFL players such as Colin Kaepernick.

"Berlin is colorful," the Hertha stadium announcer said over the loudspeaker, according to ESPNFC. "Hertha BSC stands for diversity and against violence."

"For this reason, we are joining forces with the protest of our fellow American athletes to take a stand against discrimination," the message continued.

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"For a tolerant Berlin, both now and forevermore."

The debate over protests during the national anthem became a major controversy last month when President Trump said during a campaign rally that athletes who kneel during the anthem should be fired.

"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. He is fired,' " Trump said in September.