Colin Kaepernick's Protests

A big controversial topic going around in the news over the past few weeks has been Colin Kaepernick and his stand to end the hardship for people of color and police brutality in the United States. This silent stand started early this preseason when a number of different events involving people of color and police officers around the United States not getting along. However, this has started to become more publicized as more and more people in the National Football League have been joining in with Colin Kaepernick and taking a knee or sitting during the national anthem. This stand has become way more than a simple silent stand as many people around the nation are starting to voice their opinions on this subject. Even though everyone argues their thoughts on this subject.

Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers quarterback, started much controversy against America when he remained seated for the national anthem during a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers. Kaepernick seems to had developed an enmity against America. He feels that he and fellow African American athletes should not show patriotism to their country because of the unfair treatment their ancestors went through throughout history. Although Kaepernick does have a point about the racial discrimination colored people went through throughout American history, he still has no right to disrespect his country. Kaepernick himself is not black, he is white, but he is just drawing attention to himself.

After all the talk, some have determined Colin Kaepernick has rights, but that does not make him right for not standing during the national anthem. For some who may not know, Colin Kaepernick is a famous football player for the San Francisco 49ers. He recently refused to stand for the national anthem before his game in protest of what he deems are wrongdoings against African American in the United States.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. … There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” Colin Kaepernick

“Civil Disobedience,” by Henry David Thoreau is similar to the point the NFL star Colin Kaepernick is trying to get across. Henry says at the end of his writing The Civil Disobedience “Let Every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it,” he is saying if people will start speaking up they will start to take notice what people is actually saying and wanting. NFL star Colin Kaepernick doing national anthem he will take a knee and not stand because of all the Black African Americans that's getting killed. Not just Black African American, but all the innocent that's getting served no justice. Both had spoke out against the governor and that's how Thoreau and Kaepernick are

Being an American citizen today in the United States of America, one has rights. The constitution, was established to give every state the equal opportunity and the equal chance. No one person, will have more power than the other. In the Constitution, there are twenty-seven Amendments. Freedom is what has built up the nation for many years. The First Amendment states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (Baltzell, n.d.).” The most important thing taken out of the First Amendment, is the freedom. The freedom to choose, speak, worship or do anything else, one feels is necessary, as long as no law is broken. Colin Kaepernick, a football player, first took a knee, in 2016 during the National Anthem, in his own personal beliefs, and he was not wrong, because he practiced his God given rights.

In some cases not standing for the country’s anthem is viewed as disrespectful and unhelpful in changing people’s views. Other NFL players have spoken out against the kneeling, saying that it won't get results. “Malcolm Jenkins, safety for the Philadelphia Eagles, supported Kaepernick's message but said, “My grandfather served in the military. And this is the country I love. So, me not standing for the National Anthem isn't going to get me the results I want” (ProCon). This divides the NFL and is the wrong way to go about

A controversial pastor from Baltimore had organized a silent protest outside the M&T Bank Stadium before the Ravens game began on Oct. 15 as an act of support for former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who started the NFL kneeling protest against racial injustice.

In the Time Magazine article titled “Colin Kaepernick Had No Choice but to Kneel” it goes over why Kaepernick kneeling for the national anthem is not unpatriotic. The article argues the very opposite that if Kaepernick would continue to stand despite having the views he has would be unpatriotic. Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem is seen as a way to protest that is more newsworthy than a tweet or a locker room interview, because people will notice it. Kaepernick is showing his patriotism by trying to protest in order to help America change, which he believes can happen. The author sees Kaepernick’s protest a peaceful protest on civil rights and to farther the progression in America on civil rights.

The impact that Kaep's protest has accumulated over the past year has received both negative and positive feedback. He's not just all talk, Kaep created his own organization called "The Colin Kaepernick Foundation" their mission is to, " fight oppression of all kinds, globally, through education and activism"(Kaepernick). There is also the "Know You Rights Camp" is a free campaign for youth completely funded by Colin to "raise awareness on high education, self-empowerment, and instruction to properly interact with law enforcement in various scenarios"(Kaepernick). Almost a year ago, Kaep pledged to donate $1 million to organizations working in oppressed communities such as 100 suits for 100 Men, J.Cole's Dreamville Foundation and Lower Eastside

San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, has immersed himself into a world of controversy by refusing to stand for the playing of the national anthem in protest of wrong-doings against African Americans and other minorities in the United States. Kaepernick's statement on this issue, when asked why he was not standing was, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” So naturally, the debate over whether or not Kaepernick’s reasons for kneeling were valid began.

Jemele Hill commented that Kaepernick's inability to sign with a football organization is a direct result of his protest who currently was suspended by ESPN following her rebuttal to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones pledge to bench players who disrespected the flag or anthem.

Over the months there has been a NFL Anthem Protest here in the United States, mostly started by our newest President Donald Trump. The protest began in 2016 when quarterback Colin Kaepernick started kneeling for the national anthem “The Star Spangled Banner”. There recently has not been an issue with the standing or kneeling protest until Donald Trump made it an issue. An issue so big that has the United States shook. The question to some people does it really matter if someone stands or kneel to the National Anthem, yet is it disrespectful to our nation.

Ever since Kaepernick gained public attention for sitting through the national anthem in the 2016 NFL season, the topic about the national anthem and the flag’s symbolic meanings has been a hot topic. Colin Kaepernick or any other person in the United States has absolutely every right to sit or kneel for the national anthem. The deal here is if it is appropriate for people-mostly athletes-to protest in the form of sitting or kneeling. The side supporting the protests would argue that the flag or the national anthem represents a democracy that looks down upon people of color. The protestors claim they protest solely for the purpose of achieving social change. I personally believe that there may be some social injustices still around. Protesting in the way of disrespecting the flag or the national anthem is not only morally wrong, but it is unpatriotic and traitorous. I think that the social change protestors are looking for can be achieved through some other type of active protest or actions. Such actions could be getting politically involved with lawmakers, talking with PACs and or lobbying. Soldiers have fought and died for our country leaving behind families and relatives; they did fight for the right for protestors to kneel and sit for the anthem, but I think that protesting in this manner is utterly unacceptable.

During the pre-season of the 2016 National Football League season, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat for the National Anthem to protest racial injustice within the United States. When asked why he sat, he stated, “I’ve been very clear from the beginning that I’m against the systematic oppression” of black Americans (Willingham). The quarterback received some negative reaction to his method of protest and, after three games, met with former NFL player and Army veteran Nate Boyer to discuss his protest. During this meeting, Kaepernick agreed with Boyer and decided kneeling during the anthem was a more respectful form of protest (Willingham). Since that time, many NFL players joined Kaepernick in his protest and continue to kneel during the playing of the anthem. Through this silent, non-violent protest, many uncomfortable questions are now at the forefront of American cultural discussion. To date, Kaepernick alone has paid a price for the protest actions as currently he is not playing in the NFL since no team would dare sign such a controversial player. In addition, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, recently jumped into the debate during a speech calling any player who kneels a “son of a bitch” and stating they should lose their jobs (Jenkins). The President also inferred the protests are disrespectful to the American flag and to the members of the United States’ military. This background on the NFL protests raises several questions