The Freedom Of Speech

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.

In August of 2016, Kaepernick began his protest during a NFL preseason game where he initially sat during the singing of the national anthem. At the time, his rebellious efforts became unnoticed, but he soon enough made headlines when someone took a photo of him sitting during the anthem. Thus a social issue was born from the public’s reaction from the photo.The negativity of the public’s reaction stemmed from the norm that it is customary that people raise their right hand over their heart while facing the flag when the Star-Spangled-Banner is playing, so if one does not follow this norm it is identified showing disrespect. Inevitably, the prediction of the people’s reaction were to be expected as they were outraged when Kaepernick broke the norm. Although, it is legal for individuals not to follow these sacrosanct protocols, citizens of the United States find this norm obligatory.Would you stand by and constantly watch the same social issues to keep reoccurring in your neighborhood? Not only that but it keeps happening to different people by the same organization? When numerous acts of police brutality occurred, Colin Kaepernick decided to protest. He could no longer stand by and do nothing; he decided to take a knee. For professional National Football League (NFL) player, Colin Kaepernick, his response was “no”. One of the last waves that came toward the end of the summer is the kneeling while the national anthem played during sporting events. When Kaepernick decided to

Freedom of speech is a fundamental human right. Whether or not on a college campus, people (especially college students) should have the right to speak freely. Everyone does have the right to speak freely, because it is one of the twenty-seven amendments. Colleges all around the United States are now home to many restrictions on free speech. For example, the idea and use of “free speech zones” has made its way to colleges everywhere. A “free speech zone” is a sidewalk sized place where students are allowed to speak their minds freely on college campuses. I know what you’re thinking. This sounds ridiculous. Why are there specific places for people to speak their minds? Aren’t colleges suppose to be a place where students speak their minds and learn new things? Universities should not be able to put any restrictions on free speech.

The national anthem is not a new pre-game ritual for sporting events. In fact, according to Leigh Steinberg, the performance of the song before games dates back to 1897 when it was performed for opening day baseball ceremonies. For many people who live in America, it is really the only chance they have to participate in the national anthem. In a statement to the NFL, the 49ers explained, “It is an opportunity to honor our country and reflect on the great liberties we are afforded as its

Colin Kaepernick feels that minorities are not being heard, so he used his higher status to draw attention to the racial inequality by not standing during the national anthem, instead he took a knee. The author of this article feels that the playing of the national anthem has brought politics into the NFL as opposed to Kaepernick as some people feel. However, this article also touches on the fact that his teammate at one point had also taken a knee in support of Kaepernick’s efforts. The way he chose to express his feelings has caused him to be viewed in a negative spotlight by many people all over the country. There are people even outside of the United States who have heard about this controversial situation Kaepernick has been going through.

In a demonstration of solidarity, more than one hundred and thirty NFL players have chosen to sit, kneel, or raise a fist during the national anthem. This is a movement that began last season when 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick chose to take a knee to protest police brutality against people of color. Although Kaepernick didn’t have much support from fellow players at the time, a recent turn of events has changed things. President Donald Trump’s recent commentary calling out those who chose to protest created contempt for him in the NFL community. In Megan Garber’s 2017 article entitled “They Took a Knee,” she examines exactly what Trump said and considers the impact of his words. It is indisputable that both the NFL players and our President

Racial injustice has been a recurring problem in the United States. Americans didn’t talk about how the blacks were being treated until Dr. Martin Luther King Jr started speaking and protesting racial injustice. In modern day America, racial injustice is still an occurring problem, mostly between blacks and the police force. African American’s have felt like the police force is out to get them, with valid reason of course. People have tried to protest, using slogans such as “Black Lives Matter,” although these protests have helped bring the light on police brutality towards African Americans, they haven’t helped find a cure for this sickness. The most notable protest in modern day America is kneeling during the National Anthem, started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. I will be discussing why Kaepernick started taking a knee, how the NFL reacted to the kneeling, as well as how the world has perceived kneeling.

Since the signing of the First Amendment in 1787, Americans have protested, utilizing their right of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. Protesting comes in many forms. Most protests are peaceful; however, some others involve violence. Protests have shaped the United States of America, and without them, the United States wouldn’t exist. One protest that has become a major controversy involves San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. He has refused to stand during the National Anthem of a “country that oppresses black people and people of color” (Gajanan). While many are saying that Kaepernick is disrespecting the troops and must stand for his country, we must remember the First Amendment, which gives us the right of free speech, allowing all of us, regardless of our race or religion, the right to express ourselves without interference from the government. Time.com’s Mahita Gajanan recently wrote an article titled: “Colin Kaepernick and a Brief History of Protest in Sports”. The main idea of the article is that throughout history, many athletes have used their fame to convey their ideas. This purpose of the article is to open the eyes of sports fans, veterans, those who are uninformed, and critics of Kaepernick. In the midst of

Since the early 1900s, the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” is an opportunity for citizens to honor their country and reflect on the great liberties that they are afforded. It sounds simple but the anthem has become complicated. This is America 2016, a time where police officers are getting away with murder and a businessman is elected as our president. When the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick decided to not stand for the playing of the national anthem in the pre-season game of the NFL, he was the first athlete to vividly illustrate his outrage over the police brutality stirring within the American population. His actions have led to a wave of athlete protests who are joining to exercise their constitutional rights and help fight against an issue bigger than sports. However, there are many citizens attacking the silent protests with violent threats and are calling the participants disrespectful. While the controversy has centered on the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” it has been overlooked that the problem is really with the entire country and the cultural divisions that exist in today’s society. Although many patriotic fans are criticizing and denouncing his actions, Kaepernick and many other protesters are making a difference by standing against the oppression of minorities and social injustices that are gripping our nation.

Abstract This paper will focus on the dilemma surrounding the National Football Association (NFL) and The National Anthem. The dilemma was brought about by Colin Kaepernick the former quarterback of the San Francisco Forty-niners. In 2016, Colin began a quiet demonstration by kneeling during the National Anthem.

"In recent times, many colleges and universities in the United States have retreated from strong historical support for free speech, including the dis-invitation of speakers, promulgation of speech codes that prohibit what is deemed "offensive speech," and students protesting the participation of politically unpopular speakers on campus, including those widely regarded as outside the mainstream as well as those who are traditionalist Christians, pro-Israel, anti-abortion, or otherwise conservative."(Eliott)

This Paper will go over kneeling for protest in the NFL with views from both liberals and conservatives. On August fourteenth and twentieth, in 2016 a man named Colin Kaepernick became the first person to protest during the pledge of allegiance during a football game, however, he mostly went unnoticed while he sat. On August twenty-sixth, 2016, Colin Kaepernick's sitting during the national anthem attracted a lot of attention and his team, the San Francisco 49ers released a statement saying Colin Kaepernick was sitting during the anthem. Colin Kaepernick said he was protesting not because of the military, but because he wanted to bring more attention to the suffering of colored people and issues with police violence. On September first, 2016

In recent months, Protest of the National Anthem led by NFL (National Football League) players taking a knee rather than standing with their hand over their heart has captivated headline news. The protests, were initiated by a former 49ers backup quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, in response to his dissatisfaction with police brutality and injustices against African Americans. Some might wonder why he would protest the national anthem rather than use another form of protest to convey his message. Those who don’t support the NFL players right to “Freedom of speech” such as our current President, Donald Trump are calling for the players to be fired if they continue to “disrespect” our flag and National Anthem with their peaceful protests. The opposing views raises the questions of social, political, and legal responsibility to both the nation and private businesses.

Protesting the National Anthem dates back to early World War I when people protested against conscription, and contrastingly protest in support for Socialism and Communism. In the world of sports protesting the National Anthem became prevalent after Tommie Smith and John Carlos “ made what would become one of the most famous political protests in the

Sweat is pouring off spectators faces on  August 26, 2016 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The national anthem is playing before a preseason football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers. The cameras lock in on one lone player kneeling on the 49ers sideline. It’s their quarterback, Colin Kaepernick. This date marks the start of a string of NFL protesting--by taking a knee--performed by players--even by whole teams! Over the past year there have been many debates on whether it should be allowed or not, since many people believe it to be disrespectful to veterans and the flag, hurting ticket sales or just not the place to do it at all. Those who approve of the protests argue that they have the right to. Although the NFL has  said they disapprove of the protesting there hasn’t been anything done. The constant arguments that have been raised because of the NFL not doing anything are mounting and will probably continue until action is taken. While the protests are still occurring, we can evaluate whether or not  the NFL anthem protest is something that we should support as Americans.