NFL players kneeling for the national anthem in protest - Freedom of speech or disrespectful?

[Muhammad10]

NFL players kneel for anthem in unprecedented defiance of Trump

NFL players staged an unprecedented wave of protest on Sunday, beginning at Wembley Stadium in London, after Donald Trump maintained his attack on players who kneel in protest of the national anthem.

It was a climactic day for a movement that began with a single backup quarterback kneeling before a pre-season game 13 months ago and has since prompted a nation to wrestle with questions of free speech and racial justice.

Colin Kaepernick, then with the San Francisco 49ers, kneeled in an attempt to provoke debate over race and police brutality. He is now without a team but active players have followed his example. On Saturday night, the protest spilled into baseball: the Oakland A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell kneeled during the anthem before a home game against the Texas Rangers.

Early on Sunday, shortly before his treasury secretary insisted the president was not picking a fight, Trump doubled down on his bellicose remarks at a rally in Alabama on Friday night. The president repeated his challenge to NFL team owners and encouraged fans to stop attending until the owners take action.

“If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend!” Trump wrote on Twitter. “NFL attendance and ratings are WAY DOWN. Boring games yes, but many stay away because they love our country. League should back US.”

Wembley staged the day’s first game. Around 25 players from the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens kneeled. The Guardian’s Sean Ingle reported that no white players appeared to kneel but “many players, coaches and even the Jaguars’ owner Shahid Khan linked arms instead as they stood, showing unity for their black team-mates against Trump”.

Later, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, several Miami Dolphins players wore black T-shirts supporting Kaepernick before facing the New York Jets. During the anthem, the Dolphins locked arms. The Pittsburgh Steelers collectively decided to remain in the tunnel before their game against the Bears at Chicago’s Soldier Field.

“We’re not going to play politics,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told CBS. “We’re not participating in the anthem today, not to be disrespectful to the anthem but to remove ourselves from the circumstance.

“People shouldn’t have to choose. If a guy wants to go about his normal business and participate in the anthem, he shouldn’t be forced to choose sides. If a guy feels the need to do something, he shouldn’t be separated from his team-mate who chooses not to.”

Dozens more players either kneeled or locked arms before the 1pm kickoffs. Trump tweeted: “Great solidarity for our National Anthem and for our Country. Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable. Bad ratings!”

Trump made his initial remarks at a Friday night rally for the Republican senator Luther Strange. “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a ***** off the field right now. Out! He’s fired. He’s fired!’” he said.

He also complained about rules introduced to improve safety in the NFL, which has a serious problem with head injuries.

The president’s remarks and his withdrawal on Saturday of a White House invitation to the NBA-champion Golden State Warriors prompted a remarkably strong response. NBA great LeBron James called the president a “bum” while Buffalo Bills NFL running back LeSean McCoy called him an “asshole”.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell expressed disappointment with the “divisive” comments while the New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a close friend of Trump, was among team owners to side with their players. In a statement, Kraft said he was “deeply disappointed” by Trump’s remarks.

“There is no greater unifier in this country than sports, and unfortunately, nothing more divisive than politics,” Kraft said.

In London, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said of his players and coaches: “We respect their demonstration and support them 100%.” Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke, a shareholder in Arsenal, released a statement affirming his belief in his players’ “freedom to peacefully express themselves”.

White House officials mounted a defense of the president. Treasury secretary Stephen Mnuchin told CNN: “I don’t think it’s a question of a fight the president wants to have.” Trump was responding, he said, to “the NFL saying people should be able to decide what they want to do and disrespect the United States flag”.

“He thinks this is about respect for the military and so many people who put their lives at risk and what the country stands for … players have the right to free speech off the field. On the field this is about respect for lots of people.”

Marc Short, White House director of legislative affairs, told Fox News Sunday players had “a first amendment right” to protest but added: “NFL owners also have a right to fire those players.”

Speaking on the NFL Network, Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner struck out at critics who have characterized the protests as anti-military.

“[The flag is] a symbol of the ideals of our great country: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” Warner said. “The anthem: it’s a reminder to us of those things. The president of the United States, his role is to uphold and to fight for the rights of every person, every American. And so when I heard the comments, I was so disappointed because I believe [Trump’s] comments are completely contradictory to what the flag represents.

“We have this narrative that these protests are contradictory to our flag and contradictory to our military. I don’t see them that way. I see them as complementary to the ideals to the flag, to the military and what they fought for.

“I have not heard one player that has not been more than grateful to our military. This isn’t about that at all. It’s about standing up for the ideals of the flag.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/24/donald-trump-nfl-protests-kneel-anthem

What are your thoughts on this matter?

 

[Donal Cozzie]

They have a right to do it but its disrespectful to the nation and people who literally give them a home and livelihood, think there are better ways of going about it.

 

[Pakistanian]

They have a right to do it but its disrespectful to the nation and people who literally give them a home and livelihood, think there are better ways of going about it.

Well in America we believe nobody gives you a home or a livelihood, you earn it and don't owe anybody anything.

 

[Muhammad10]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TakeAKnee?src=hash">#TakeAKnee</a> isn't about the flag. It's about America's racism. <a href="https://t.co/KQsSWW0o4l">https://t.co/KQsSWW0o4l</a> <a href="https://t.co/YNf3fL0GB5">pic.twitter.com/YNf3fL0GB5</a></p>— HuffPost BlackVoices (@blackvoices) <a href="https://twitter.com/blackvoices/status/912379950258429954">September 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

NFL teams will be fined if players kneel for the US national anthem under a new policy.

The American football league said players who do not stand for the Star-Spangled Banner can stay in the locker room until it has been performed.

The NFL also vowed to "impose appropriate discipline on league personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem."​

Players said the protests were against policy brutality of African Americans.

"It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement accompanying the policy change.

"This is not and was never the case. This season, all league and team personnel shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem.

"Personnel who choose not to stand for the Anthem may stay in the locker room until after the Anthem has been performed."

The new policy includes the provision that individual clubs can develop their own rules - that abide by the new principles - about how to handle personnel who do not wish to stand.

The NFL's policy statement said the move was meant to reaffirm a "strong commitment" to work with players "to strengthen our communities and advance social justice".

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44230772?ocid=socialflow_twitter

 

[Pakistanian]

Expect some civil disobedience. People here do NOT like to be told what to do.

 

[KingKhanWC]

I keep getting told America is the greatest democracy, they have the ultimate freedom of speech which is enshrined in their constitution.

Is it because it's black people who are protesting against injustice?

 

[Gotham Cronie]

Wonder how Pakistani crickets kneeling to protest crimes against minorities during the national anthem would be viewed.

 

[moghul]

Its disgraceful, there is always a limit to freedom of speech. You cannot disrespect country's flag while living in the same country.

 

[moghul]

I keep getting told America is the greatest democracy, they have the ultimate freedom of speech which is enshrined in their constitution.

Is it because it's black people who are protesting against injustice?

Yes, there is freedom of speech here but people love and respect their national flag.

 

[Syed1]

I'd be livid if a Pakistani was disrespecting the Pakistani national anthem, I can imagine why NFL has banned it. There are many other ways to protest.

 

[www787]

Its disgraceful, there is always a limit to freedom of speech. You cannot disrespect country's flag while living in the same country.

How was flag disrespected ?

Flag is a symbol. Players are protesting unjust killing of human being. Stop conflating the two and stop using your false sense of immature patriotism to defend this nonsense.

 

[www787]

Wonder how Pakistani crickets kneeling to protest crimes against minorities during the national anthem would be viewed.

As a Pakistani I can’t wait for that where majority are standing for minority.

 

[www787]

I'd be livid if a Pakistani was disrespecting the Pakistani national anthem, I can imagine why NFL has banned it. There are many other ways to protest.

But no one is disrespecting a flag.

 

[MenInG]

Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback whose kneeling protests of racial injustice roiled the league, called out US "imperialism" on Twitter on Saturday.

Kaepernick's tweets came a day after the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, although they did not specifically reference the Baghdad drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump.

"There is nothing new about American terrorist attacks against Black and Brown people for the expansion of American imperialism," Kaepernick tweeted.

"America has always sanctioned and besieged Black and Brown bodies both at home and abroad," he added in a separate post. "America militarism is the weapon wielded by American imperialism, to enforce its policing and plundering of the non white world."

The assassination of Soleimani has been followed by vows of reprisal from Iran -- met with a warning from Trump that the United States is targeting 52 sites in Iran if the Islamic republic attacks American personnel or bases.

Kaepernick, 32, was an NFL star in 2016 when he began kneeling during pre-game playings of the US national anthem to protest racial inequality -- demonstrations that Trump criticized.

He opted out of his San Francisco 49ers contract for free agency in 2017, but found no takers.

He reached a settlement with the NFL over claims that owners were improperly keeping him out of the league and had insisted in 2019 that he was "ready to play" despite almost three years out of the league.

His tweets came on the opening day of the NFL playoffs.

https://www.afp.com/en/news/824/kaepernick-calls-out-us-imperialism-doc-1ng2ys1

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Navy SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce used “Colin Kaepernick stand-in" for K-9 demonstration at fundraiser last year <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BecauseFlorida?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BecauseFlorida</a> <a href="https://t.co/COHFCeJ3GN">https://t.co/COHFCeJ3GN</a> <a href="https://t.co/EpcELHxrSe">pic.twitter.com/EpcELHxrSe</a></p>— Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillyCorben/status/1289961836264095744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


The US Navy Seals are investigating after a man wearing a Colin Kaepernick shirt was attacked by dogs during a demonstration at a Seals museum.

A video shows him in protective clothing - and a jersey with the American football player's name on - being set upon by four dogs as a crowd watches and someone commentates.

Kaepernick became a controversial figure for some when he began taking the knee during the US national anthem in 2016 to protest against police brutality and racism.

In a second video, the same man appears to say "oh man, I'll stand" as he is detained in another military roleplay.

The Seals' official Twitter account said the video was posted last year and it had only just become aware of it.

"The inherent message of this video is completely inconsistent with the values and ethos of Naval Special Warfare and the U.S Navy," it posted.

"We are investigating the matter fully, and initial indications are that there were no active duty Navy personnel or equipment involved with this independent organization's event."

The museum is in Fort Pierce, Florida, and says it is "the only museum dedicated solely to preserving the history of the U.S. Navy SEALs and their predecessors".

It is not run by the US Navy or government, however many retired Seals are listed on its board of directors and the museum says its achieved "national stature" in 2007.

The museum has so far not commented on the videos.

The US Navy Seals is one of the world's most elite and well-known special forces, conducting secret missions all over the world alongside the likes of Britain's SAS.

https://news.sky.com/story/navy-sea...ack-on-man-in-colin-kaepernick-shirt-12041347

 

[sweep_shot]

I think it is disrespectful. You can probably be in big trouble in most countries. Only western countries put up with this.

 

[KingKhanWC]

I think it is disrespectful. You can probably be in big trouble in most countries. Only western countries put up with this.

Most countries weren't built on racism and slavery, continued with aparthied and continue with a racist society.

Sooner or later, a race war will erupt in Yankistan.

 

[sweep_shot]

Most countries weren't built on racism and slavery, continued with aparthied and continue with a racist society.

Sooner or later, a race war will erupt in Yankistan.

I agree. But, kneeling down during anthem is a bit over the top though.

Sports should be free from these.

 

[KingKhanWC]

I agree. But, kneeling down during anthem is a bit over the top though.

Sports should be free from these.

NBA players did this today too. They dont want people to reconcile, they want continued hatred , from both sides.

 

[Giannis]

No, if anything kneeling is a bargain. Kaepernick started off by sitting out the anthem, the kneeling came afterwards since it was more palatable and makes for good optics.

 

[The Viper]

NFL: Colin Kaepernick criticises league 'propaganda' and Eric Reid 'blackballing

Colin Kaepernick has called the NFL's support for anti-racism protests at the start of the season "propaganda" and claimed it is "blackballing" his ex-San Francisco 49ers team-mate Eric Reid.

Kaepernick and Reid began kneeling for the national anthem before matches in 2016 in protest over racial injustice.

Kaepernick has been a free agent since 2017, while Reid is also unattached after leaving the Carolina Panthers.

BBC Sport has approached the NFL for comment.

"While the NFL runs propaganda about how they care about black life, they are still actively blackballing Eric Reid for fighting for the black community," Kaepernick posted on social media on Sunday.

"Eric set two franchise records last year and is one of the best defensive players in the league."

Reid is a free agent after parting ways with the Panthers in March, where he had played for the past two seasons.

The 28-year-old was a vocal supporter of the anti-racism movement throughout his time in Carolina, and set Panthers defensive records last year with 130 tackles and four sacks.

Quarterback Kaepernick, 32, has not been picked by a team since 2016 but he has previously said he is "still ready" to play in the NFL, despite his long absence.

In October 2017, Kaepernick filed a grievance against NFL owners because he believed teams were conspiring to not hire him because of his protests.

That grievance came to a settlement in February 2019, alongside a similar collusion case filed on behalf of Reid.

The NFL has changed its position on protests during Kaepernick's absence. In May 2018, the league introduced a rule which meant teams would be fined if players kneeled during the national anthem.

However, it made a U-turn in June this year, saying protest during the national anthem would be allowed.

This season end zones across the league will bear the words "End Racism" and "It Takes All Of Us", while players will be allowed to wear helmet stickers featuring the names of victims of racism.

Months of protests have taken place across the United States following the death of George Floyd after he was arrested by police in Minneapolis in May, and the demonstrations continued during the opening weekend of the NFL.

Fewer than a quarter of the stadium's seats were in use because of Covid-19 restrictions in the first fixture since the outbreak of the virus during the Kansas City Chiefs' win over the Houston Texans on Thursday.

However, pockets of the crowd booed as players linked arms in a 'moment of unity' shortly before the game started.

The only team to allow any fans on Sunday were the Jacksonville Jaguars, who like several teams remained in the locker room during the singing of the national anthem and Lift Every Voice And Sing, considered the black national anthem.

Their opponents, the Indianapolis Colts, were on the sidelines and head coach Frank Reich stepped forward to kneel during the national anthem as players linked arms behind him.

The Jaguars' decision was taken to avoid a repeat of Thursday's opener.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/american-football/54144478

 

[El Generico]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If we wish to “keep politics out of sports”, that also means no longer playing the national anthem and suspending any and all military ceremonies from all sporting events.</p>— Sami Zayn (@SamiZayn) <a href="https://twitter.com/SamiZayn/status/1305274400854413312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Pretty good point, there is no reason to randomly have the anthem everywhere. It only makes a bit of sense at international sporting events, makes no sense to have it before every game of a domestic league.