National Anthem 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.

Refusing to stand for the National Anthem shows disrespect to the flag members of armed forces. For example, “The national anthem pays respect to the people who have risked their lives, been injured, or died defending the US.” Without a doubt, this is 100% true because why should someone be able to take a knee and disrespect the flag when people risked their lives for us to be free. Yes, that's what the flag represents but people should never bite the hand that feeds you.The writer of the national anthem sated, “it just blows my mind that somebody like (kaepernick) would do what he does to dishonor the flag of this country and the national anthem when we have young men and women overseas fighting for this country, that people have died for.”I agree with the evidence stated because I feel like everyone should pay their respects to everyone who fought for the flag. I understand that you aren’t supportive of the National anthem but I feel as if there's another way you can protest. That’s not as disrespectful for instance, taking a knee before or after the national anthem. Lastly, the New Orleans quarterback, supported Kaepernick’s message but disagreed with the delivery: “It's and oxymoron that you’re sitting down, disrespecting that flag that has given you the freedom to speak out.” As this being stated I agree with the New Orleans Quarterback because, again there is another way to protest and at least be smart about what you're doing.

The national anthem pays respect to the people who have risked their lives, been injured, or died defending the United States. This is happening in the United States at the moment. For instance, there are some NFL (National Football League) players who sit or kneel during the National Anthem. I personally believe that they should stand up and honor those who are fighting for our country or

Countless people worldwide have different opinions on the National Anthem protest in the NFL. Some people think it’s a good idea of protest and agree with what those players are protesting for, some people are just hard headed and don’t want to look at the bigger picture and just call it outright disrespectful to the flag and the military. A large number of people find it appropriate and support what those players are fighting for because they are exercising their first amendment right, and that shows how educated someone is. People also support this protest because it is very peaceful and is not resulting in a harmful way that endangers people. The National Anthem protest is an extremely appropriate form of protest, because it gives athletes the chance to perform an act that can have them killed or punished extremely in other countries.

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.

The massive protest throughout the NFL is against the violence and injustice toward African-Americans in the United States. As a team the Seattle Seahawks stated that they, “‘Will not stand for the injustice that has plagued people of color in this country’” (May 1). The Star Spangled Banner is an important song for Americans because it shows the unity within the country; in fact, it is supposed to bring all citizens together no matter their differences. Standing for the Anthem shows respect for all the men and women in our military who have fought for the freedom and rights of American citizens. Nick Stefanovic is a Marine Corps veteran, and was deployed to Afghanistan twice. He is one of the military personnel who think Americans should be standing for the

In the article, “National Anthem Protests”, written by Steve Byas on The New American, on October 24, 2016, states that when the San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, decided to kneel during the national anthem that his protest wasn’t about the police brutality on blacks but to disrespect this country. Texas senator, Ted Cruz, states in the article that “it’s very easy when you’re sitting there, rolling in millions of dollars to disrespect this country” (13 Byas). Kaepernick and many other NFL players have stated that they are not disrespecting our flag but kneeling in protest to the police brutality on black people across the country. Although the players have said this, people beg to differ.

“An athlete silently protests during the national anthem. People respond with taunts of "traitor," "you're a disgrace" and "leave our country!" Are these angry tweets aimed at National Football League players kneeling during the national anthem?”said by writers Lonnie Bunch and David Skorton.Due to half of the 49ers team kneeling during the National Anthem 49ers fans are burning their jerseys due to the refusal of the players to stand during the National Anthem.Many fans are outraged and boycotting National football because of the fact that football players are disrespecting the flag by kneeling during the National Anthem.The reason players should stand for the National Anthem is because the United States Flag stands for the individuality and

Certain people have even gone against watching the NFL because of players representing their cause during the anthem. “A new poll conducted by Yahoo! surveyed 1,136 Americans who identified as NFL fans, 29 percent of which said they are watching fewer NFL games in 2016 than they did in 2015. Forty percent of those viewers cited Kaepernick’s national anthem protests as the reason they stopped watching, which shakes out to about 11.6 percent of all fans surveyed” (Dolloff). Protesting is not necessarily helping your cause if some people aren’t even going to watch you for doing it.

Picture this, an NFL player getting on the field and warming up. Then, as the game gets closer to starting the field clears so they could get the flag on the field to do the national anthem. This is when something tragically happens. This is when some NFL players kneel during the national anthem. Many people think that protesting the national anthem by kneeling is a bad thing. However, it’s what the players feel like doing even though it is a little disrespectful. Many players kneeled on one day and that was when president Trump made a comment about football.

Due to racial injustices and a great loss of African American lives at the hands of police officers, various athletes have decided to peacefully protest by kneeling during the National Anthem before sporting events. However, some commentators have argued that this method of protest is offensive or disrespectful, and very unpatriotic. This form of protest has been a popular topic of conversation and nearly splits the country into two...for, and against. However, every U.S. citizen is granted a right to the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution, which includes freedom of speech and protest.

Kneeling During the National Anthem Does it seem right that people are protesting the anthem for respect, yet they’re disrespecting the flag and soldiers at the same time? A lot of people are protesting the anthem and kneeling during sporting events because they feel America is not living up to it’s standards, but by doing so, they are just causing more issues instead of resolving them. Kneeling during the national anthem is not an appropriate form of protest. Kneeling during the national anthem upsets many and shows division in our country.

A famous sports figure in history once said, “I cannot stand and sing the anthem. I cannot salute the flag. I know that I am a black man in a white world” (McKirdy). At first glance, this quote seems to be something that would have been said by the San Francisco 49ers Quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, in light of his recent protests, as well as other sports players who decided to follow suit, to the playing of the national anthem before football games. However, this is not the case. The above quote was written in the 1972 autobiography, I Never Had it Made, written by Jackie Robinson, an African American Baseball player (McKirdy). Colin Kaepernick obviously felt the same as Jackie Robinson did when he sat on the bench rather than standing during a rendition of the national anthem before a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers on August 26. During an interview with the media following the game, Kaepernick explained why he refused to stand for the anthem, “‘I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder’” (Wyche). Kaepernick explains that he refused to stand for the national anthem because of the

More and more every sunday, NFL players are locking arms or refusing to stand for the national anthem. Some teams are even staying off the field until the anthem is over. Colin Kaepernick started this protest to help decrease the amount of shootings of unarmed black men by police, but recently it has become more than that. The protest is now more like the NFL standing up as one against Trump and his nasty comments. Trump has recently said that any “son of a bitch” who “disrespects our flag”

They players looked for alternate ways to demonstrate, such as by kneeling before the anthem and then standing when it started,”(Smith, 2017). Players started to notice a disturbance amongst the fans, while they protested, so they tried to find ways to support their fans opinions. They did this under no obligation, but out of the kindness of their hear. With no evidence of violence resulting from the protests and players going out of their way to appease the fans, national anthem protests are done with