BALTIMORE -- The Maryland Stadium Authority has increased security around the Ray Lewis statue outside M&T Bank Stadium after the former All-Pro linebacker joined Ravens players in kneeling during the national anthem, which spurred an on-line petition to remove the 3-year-old landmark.
The petition on change.org has received over 50,000 signatures as of Thursday morning.
The extra security has been in place since Sunday afternoon, a spokeswoman for the Maryland Stadium Authority told The Baltimore Sun. A Ravens spokesman declined comment to ESPN.
Last Sunday, Lewis joined 13 Ravens players in kneeling during the anthem before Baltimore's 44-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.