NFL Protests

In 2017 controversy struck when the NFL tried “taking a stance” and protesting the National Anthem. In this protest, many NFL players one by one knelt down while the National Anthem played at their sporting event. The National Anthem is a song for our country and symbol to represent all of the men and women who have fought in our military. This song is not played just for our entertainment, it is to honor the flag and what it stands for. The protesting was started by Colin Kaepernick, last season, when he was the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. He was the first player to take a knee during the playing of the National Anthem, now many other NFL players this season are following in his path and doing the same thing. Many players and viewers claim it is for police brutality and the injustice that is being served, while other viewers see it as entitled millionaires disrespecting the flag and the military. Everyone has different opinions on the issue, but no matter what the country needs to respect one another as humans and be united; the American Flag is a symbol of our freedom and the NFL needs to recognize the National Anthem rather than kneeling and disrespecting what it stands for.

Protesting in the National Football League has been going on, as some of the country’s most beloved and highly recognized athletes are seen disrespecting the United States of America on national TV every weekend. The players’ reason for the protesting is police brutality, you can see them kneeling, raising their fist in the air, or even sit in the locker room while the national anthem is being played. Although I do understand what they are trying to do, I believe that there definitely better ways to go about their protest. The protests started in 2016 when Colin Kaepernick, quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, took a knee during the national anthem. When question about his actions he responded by saying, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour”(Lake). While some people sided with Kaepernick most people took offense to his decision to kneel. In him doing this it has caused a league wide outbreak in protest; as players and sometimes even whole teams take a knee or show some type of protest during our country's anthem.

I think that the NFL National anthem protests need to be fixed and someone has to do something. During the 2016 season, NFL players have started to protest against our country have been kneeling. It started with Colin Kaepernick in 2016. Since then people have started kneeling and teams have been staying in locker rooms during national anthems. There are multiple reasons why players should kneel or stand.

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.

A present day crucible in today’s world that has been occurring more and more is kneeling to the national anthem and how people that kneel don’t like our country, are only focused on helping one group/race of people, and people are being kicked off teams because of them making protests.The Anthem protests started last year in August when Colin Kaepernick sat on the bench at an NFL game during the National Anthem. After the game reporters asked him why he sat and he said, “I am not going to stand up and show pride in a flag for a country that opposes black people and people of color” (Wyche ). Since this first incident it’s spread across all of the NFL, high school sports, NHL, women's professional soccer, and even in the MLB. This protest has even been caught in the eyes of the president and there is no sign of this protest slowing down.

Ever since September of last year, the NFL National Anthem Protest has been one of the most controversial topics across social-media, alongside with other protests against police brutality. Many have criticized for such an action for being disrespectful to the National Anthem and Flag. Those, who have supported it, claim to protest against the nationwide police brutalities against the Black people. Looking back to the history of the United States, such sports protests are not a unique incident. During 1968 Olympic game, which are hold in Mexico City, African American Athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their black-gloved fists to speak for black civil rights. Yet, back then both the U.S. government and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not show support for such an action, though today the IOC claimed that the black American athletes has made names for themselves for doing such protests.

“Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave. O'er the land and of the free, and the home of the brave.” These words from our beloved national anthem, are words that this country chooses to live by. Ladies and gentlemen will remove their caps, and then all rise for the playing of the Star Spangled Banner. Most Americans have become comfortable about this right and pleasure that we have. To be able to show respect for the ones who aren’t here, and can’t even stand to do so. One professional American football player had another agenda for this time. He decided to kneel instead of stand like we have all become accustomed to. In my generation, we take our freedom and rights for granted. We do this, because we never had

Racial inequality will always be a huge topic in the United States of America, and continues today to still be a huge topic. With the NFL players raising awareness by kneeling and locking arms together during the national anthem, the topic of racial inequality has gained more interest. After Kaepernick in 2016 first kneeled many other athletes and stars joined the movement to talk about the problems of racial inequality. People like Ellen DeGeneres, Zendaya, George Lopez, and many others voice their support for the players (JustJared). This new NFL season has caused more controversy with a new president that is invoking many people, Trump took a shot at the players protesting stating “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners,

“President Donald Trump is criticizing the NFL over players kneeling during the national anthem. Trump has suggested the owners should "fire" any players who knelt during the "Star Spangled Banner.” Third Paragraph

Is kneeling during the National Anthem disrespectful to America. People have been asking this question for a year and a half right now. The National Anthem is a moment of time where we all become one, looking at the possibilities of the future. We honor the many people who served and who are serving in the armed forces and the public forces with great respect. They are the light of which blocks out the darkness, so it won't affect the United States of America. The United States of America is a beautiful place with many cultures and beliefs. We learn from each other new things that we can use to benefit our life's. The many instances of kneeling in the NFL have brought a large consequence to the financial side of the NFL and other associated businesses. In the NFL, viewership has dropped over 10 percent in the 2017 season so far. The NFL is a 13-billion-dollar business. The effects of the protest have led to almost a 2-billion-dollar loss in revenue. Kneeling in the NFL has created controversy and arguments that we cannot ignore forever.

July 4, 1776 was the day America became its own country. 231,000 Americans fought for America’s independence in the American Revolution. The National Anthem was written in 1814, after the soldiers kept the flag standing during the bombs being dropped in the War of 1812. Every war or battle in American history has been for America’s freedom. Many people think that wearing hats during the National Anthem is rude and disrespectful to the soldiers who have fought or died for America’s freedom, but what about kneeling? Kneeling during the National Anthem is rude and disrespectful to the soldiers that have fought for America. The NFL players began kneeling last year during the National Anthem as a protest to police brutality against different races. President Trump spoke out against the kneeling and was accused of suppressing the NFL players natural right. President Trump is not suppressing the NFL players rights because no one has been fired and he has just as much a freedom of speech as any other man in the United States.

Football players in the NFL are kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem to protest racial discrimination and police brutality; this can be stopped by reducing the football player’s pay, make kneeling during the National Anthem illegal, or try to end racial discrimination and police brutality in America. This protest was started by a quarterback from the San Francisco 49ers named Colin Kaepernick who said that he refused to honor a song or “show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” (McLaughlin and Simon) Even though this is a peaceful protest, it is still unjust and very disrespectful. Not only is it disrespectful to the American Flag, it is highly disrespectful to the American troops that fought for this country.

Not standing up for the flag is disrespectful towards our amazing country in general. All rules aside, sitting during the Anthem is your choice. If you decide to kneel during the Anthem do you really love this country? Maybe these selfish players should go try to make millions of dollars in another country and get out of our beloved America. Our country has given them literally everything they’ll ever need yet they still want to disrespect her. These players are blaming the protest on several different things, and being oppressed is one of them. If you’ve ever watched the news or done any research, you’ll realize that there is not one person in this country oppressed by the government. Our government pays millions of dollars a year to the U.S. Military special forces to help other countries that are oppressed. Go talk to one of those guys, and they’ll tell you what a oppressed country looks like. We live in the best country in the world, hands down. Quit being spoiled, selfish, little rich boys and realize that while you’re here on this earth this is the best you can ask for.

The NFL has taken a hit in recent months due to a multitude of players taking a knee during the National Anthem. People around the globe are in an uproar about the recent events. Actions are being taken everywhere, whether that be supporting the measures being taken or rebelling against them by no longer watching the National Football Leagues on Sunday nights. Nevertheless, actions are being taken, these just may not be the actions they wanted to see.

In the most vulgar sense, Trump tweets implied that NFL players protesting the National Anthem needed to be fired. In addition, he suggested the NFL implement a rule that players cannot kneel during the National Anthem, commended Dallas Cowboy fans for booing players kneeling before one of their games, and suggested football fans stop attending games as a counter-protest. Trump’s recklessness positioned him as the center of the public controversy surrounding Kaepernick’s protests . Surprisingly, NFL leadership reached a consensus that they disapprove of the President’s