Protestors Kneeling For The Anthem

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.

This act of kneeling down should be considered as an act of patriotic criticism, rather than a betrayal of the nation. After all, patriotism does not mean that we should love and support everything that the government conducts, but rather we should criticize for the greater good of the government, so that it could improve. Government could only improve, if they can hear the voice from the people. Only after accepting the criticism can one improve. Therefore, the focus of such protest in the NFL should be why they protested, instead of the act of protesting. After all,

Situations such as the Michael Brown one, Freddie gray one and Tamir rice are all reasons NFL players such as Colin Kaepernick have been kneeling. The Alton Sterling incident is on camera which is heartbreaking to even think about. Police kill black African-Americans and then try to stand behind self-defense and the law. That isn`t right that families especially moms have to bury their son and live with not never ever seeing their son again. A lot of people say it`s disrespecting the flag which is wrong. African- Americans go through things other races could never. I am in pro of players kneeling because of the injustice inequality and the lack of respect we simply just don`t get. Kneeling brought attention to all of the issues that America is going through also. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks didn`t do things like they did for the world to be at the place it is now. One of the first amendments is freedom of speech and to peacefully assemble. People like white

“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

One of the reasons why the NFL kneeling is wrong is because their cause is misinformed. There is a widespread diction that the police are biased against people of color, especially blacks. The grounding for the NFL kneeling during the national anthem is therefore based on this diction which is factual. While there is some truth to the issue, Roland Fryer comments that such brutality is usually in the form of non-lethal force. According to Fryer, there is no record of racial difference in how the police applies lethal force. What such findings indicate is that if the police are brutal, they are not only brutal to people of color, but also to every other American irrespective of race. Fundamentally, any patriotic person would oppose police brutality

Caleb I strongly agree with you because I believe that kneeling during the national anthem or during the pledge is very disrespectful to anyone who believes in the true spirit of americans. Many people have had their lives taken fighting for the flag and to kneel in front of it is very rude. I am not against protesting or people rights or any of that I just think that there is better ways to express yourself. He could have instead said something or even done something that showed that he thought that african americans or anyone should have equal rights. Americans are also very proud of the flag and when you kneel you kind of are saying that you don’t really care that much. If he is showing that he doesn’t care about his country he shouldn’t

Football players of the NFL kneeling in protest of the national anthem is an appropriate use of free speech, as they are entirely peaceful in what they choose to do. The first amendment grants citizens of America the right to gather peacefully to protest, and the freedom of expression all under freedom of speech. The case of football players is only about them refusing “[...] to stand for the national anthem” and nothing else. (Source A) They did not choose violence at all and were entirely compliant with the law and first amendment in their actions. This is unlike protests such as the protests against the shooting

Kneeling is something people do when they pray to show great respect toward their heavenly father. However, when one person kneels during the National Anthem many people go and claim their actions are disrespectful without any knowledge of why they kneeled. Many believe that the kneeling is to show disrespect toward the country. Well, it’s not. The protest is really just about those denying the most basic freedoms. According to Julius Peppers, “this wasn't about disrespecting the military, disrespecting the flag, police, first responders, none of that,” and those are the reasons people are thinking for why the players are protesting. When really according to SB Nation NFL, “The players are simply protesting systemic oppression against people of color, police brutality, and the criminal justice system. The national anthem is just the vehicle for the protest.” Meaning people of color just want equal rights and want to be treated like humans instead of animals. Many may believe that people of color have all equal rights, yet those people that believe that are white and may not be educated on what is happening around them. If people educate themselves on to why this protest is happening they will see that even veterans are agreeing

    First and foremost, for athletes, or for anyone, to protest during the national anthem is plain disrespecting this country and veterans. Our veterans fought for our freedom, but that does not excuse the action of protesting while “The Star-Spangled Banner” is being sung. “By protesting the national anthem, they are protesting America,” [Matthews, 4]. According to Matthews, the action taken by football players, protesting during the national anthem, is like going against America. Therefore, they cannot be pardoned for their disrespect. However, some may say that these athletes have every right to express their opinion, according to the First Amendment. But is it still the right thing to do, protesting during the national anthem when we should be standing, united? “‘Having a right to do something does not make it the right thing to do,’ Rohan said.

National Anthem protests started on August 14th, 2016 with Colin Kaepernick sitting on the bench during the national anthem. This continued for another two games before he talked to former Green Beret and former NFL player Nate Boyer about the best way to make his point without disrespecting the military; Kaepernick then began taking a knee instead of simply sitting on the bench during games beginning on November 1st, 2016. There has been talk across the nation from last year into this year about whether or not this protesting should be happening, and about what the protesting was legitimately about, with even the president weighing in on the matter; everyone seems to have an opinion about the issue. But the National Anthem protests should stop because they have goals that are vague and unclear; refusing to stand is disrespectful to soldiers and veterans alike; and refusing to stand makes people too angry to consider the message behind the protest, effectively stopping any progress that could be made by the protests.

Would you stand up for what you believe in even if it was ‘against the rule’? It started out with Olympians, then football players, and now players around the U.S. are kneeling to show support to Colin Kaepernick and protest the treatment of Black people by authorities. There are many reasons to kneel during the National Anthem. It’s a peaceful protest for attention to show police brutality against African-Americans, most Americans support players’ right to protest, and there is no rule that athletes have to stand during the National Anthem.

Recent protests among National Football League players have sparked controversy across the nation. Although somewhat miniscule in comparison to dilemmas occurring worldwide, the protests have launched the nation into an all encompassing debate. While many people feel these players are disrespecting our country, that doesn’t seem to be the case at all. As an NFL player, and especially as a star player in the NFL, one has a platform that reaches more people than any average American could ever hope to reach. In demonstrating their beliefs by kneeling for the anthem, these players are bringing huge recognition to their cause and have started a discussion that’s gained incredible traction throughout the country. Kneeling for the anthem, though somewhat controversial, is acceptable because citizens have the right to protest, ability to demonstrate, and the freedom to kneel.

In the article ¨National Anthem Protests Are Effective in Bringing Attention to Racial Discrimination.” ¨Speaking about the issue to reporters, President Barack Obama explained that Kaepernick had a constitutional right to protest by refusing to stand for the national anthem¨ (Point).¨A powerful display of protest-more than one hundred NFL players kneeling in defiance of President Trump. The day started off in London. Players took a knee and locked arms during the national anthem. Hours later, back home, players across the NFL showed solidarity--some sitting, others raising their fists¨ (Snow). Many other individuals agree with me because it is our Constitutional right to take a knee to protest police brutality. Many other like are on President Donald Trump is trying to take that away and say no that National Football Players cannot take a knee before the game. When NFL players take a knee during the National Anthem no one gets hurt no one goes to jail it's peaceful. This

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.

In 2016, former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, kneeled for the first 3 games of the season while the national anthem played. He did this alone, and his response 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,” Kaepernick said. “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” (Gaines, 2017). It seems to have rolled over into this season and many other players from several teams have decided to follow in Kaepernick’s, who was not hired by any team this year, footsteps. This has created much controversy as to whether this should be allowed because it’s believed to be a sign of disrespect. However, they are not protesting the anthem, the flag, or those who have fought and died in honor of it, they are instead protesting, as Kaepernick said once before, police brutality against African Americans, and the lack of legal accountability for the officers who are responsible for said violence. They are protesting, more broadly, the systematic ways of racism in America, and how these injustices are expanded from a personal evil into a societal one. While there is no country greater, we are not perfect, and we have much work to do, it is also no secret that inequalities still exist in 2017, something must be done, even if this something begins with our favorite football player.