On Thursday night, NFL players sent a powerful message to all of the NFL owners who attempted to revoke their freedom of speech and demand that they stand during the National Anthem.
Current Events
At the start of preseason play, several NFL players opted to utilize their 1st Amendment right and took a knee, raised their fists, or simply didn’t take to the field at all during the National Anthem.
Prior to their home game against Tampa Bay, Miami Dolphins wide receivers Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson knelt during the anthem, while defensive end Robert Quinn raised his fist during the song. Philadelphia Eagles captain Malcolm Jenkins and cornerback De’Vante Bausby each raised their fists prior to their game, while defensive end Michael Bennett walked out of the tunnel during the anthem and headed toward the team bench. Several Jacksonville Jaguars players, included Jalen Ramsey, Telvin Smith, Leonard Fournette and T.J. Yeldon chose not to take the field during the anthem before their preseason game against the New Orleans Saints. Additionally, 10 members of the New York Giants knelt in unison during the NFL Network’s television coverage of their game against the Cleveland Browns.
The practice of NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem began with former star quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who knelt in protest of racial inequality and police brutality against African-Americans. His actions were berated by Donald Trump, whose hissy fit convinced NFL owners (led by Dallas Cowboy’s owner Jerry Jones) to punish players who did anything other than stand while the anthem was played. That policy has since been tabled until the NFL Players Association is given a fair opportunity to be heard and to negotiate terms.
There is police brutality. People of color have been targeted by police. So that’s a large part of it and they’re government officials. They are put in place by the government. So that’s something that this country has to change. There’s things we can do to hold them more accountable. Make those standards higher. You have people that practice law and are lawyers and go to school for eight years, but you can become a cop in six months and don’t have to have the same amount of training as a cosmetologist. That’s insane. Someone that’s holding a curling iron has more education and more training than people that have a gun and are going out on the street to protect us.
– Colin Kaepernick
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My brother @kstills continued his protest of systemic oppression tonight by taking a knee. Albert Wilson @iThinkIsee12 joined him in protest. Stay strong brothers!✊🏾
📸 @footcandles#imwithkap #imwithereid #takeaknee pic.twitter.com/LimoadfUcW— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) August 10, 2018
Interestingly, no law exists that mandates anyone to stand during The Star-Spangled Banner. However, a federal law does exist to protect from desecrating the flag — which includes wearing the stars and stripes as shorts, a t-shirt, a bandana or other costume — which ironically happens all the time.
The Star-Spangled Banner is not sung or played prior to most other public gatherings, including concerts, Broadway shows, operas or lectures. So why is it so sacred prior to sports? And why is it sacrilege for someone to utilize their 1st Amendment right and kneel?
As far as 2018-2019 NFL players are concerned, if US law can’t/won’t mandate one religious belief or one political affiliation, then neither should it mandate expression of patriotism.
First: I commend those few players who demonstrated the Courage to continue their Peaceful protests against -and increase public Awareness of -ongoing racial injustices in Our country.
Glad you posted on this topic DJ: “The Star-Spangled Banner is not sung or played prior to most other public gatherings, including concerts, Broadway shows, operas or lectures. So why is it so sacred prior to sports?”
Exactly! I haven’t heard one good reason yet. In fact, I think the anthem’s “sacred” status has actually been diminished by that, now, very common act.
“And why is it sacrilege for someone to utilize their 1st Amendment right and kneel?”
It isn’t and THEY (mostly racist rabble rousers) know it. I look forward to the day when the majority of pro Black athletes have the Courage to kneel in a United manner for such a Righteous cause.