Last week, Donald Trump said any “son of a bitch” who kneeled during the anthem should be “fired”. The president’s comments drew a widespread response among NFL teams with players dropping to their knee during the anthem. Even the Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, a staunch supporter of Trump, took the knee albeit not during the anthem. We asked what you think about the protests. Here are some of your responses.
Kellie Johnson, 45, Minnesota: When I joined the military I took an oath to defend freedom of expression
As a former member of the US military, I took an oath to defend the constitution which includes freedom of expression. They aren’t kneeling for fun, it’s a protest. It would be nice if people would stop focusing on the anthem and instead focus on the reason for the protest; America has some serious race issues and we need to deal with them. But it’s hard and some people can’t face hard things. What’s sad is that so many people in the stands at sporting events talk or look at their phones during the national anthem and I bet a lot of them are now complaining about kneeling. Those are the people who are truly disrespecting the flag and the anthem.
Sheila, 47, Los Angeles: They are courageously using themselves as a subtle but powerful political statement
When you have the privilege of being famous enough to have a public forum that many will witness, it is vitally important to use that fame for something useful at this point in history. Fame for the sake of being famous just makes you into another Kardashian and a part of the problem as opposed to part of the solution. These players, by courageously using themselves as a subtle but powerful political statement have done us all a favor as we continue to wrestle with a truth so deep, that white supremacy is endemic to American culture it’s institutions and overall psyche.
Barbie, 57, Chesapeake, VA: If you don’t want to honor your country then leave and go somewhere else
Kneeling during the national anthem and flag burning shows utter disrespect for everything this country stands for, especially the military who fight and stand up for our right to protest and freedom of speech. If you don’t want to honor your country then leave and go somewhere else and see how that works out for you. If the NFL players want to express themselves do it off the field and do something for your community. Football is a pass time where fans don’t want to get involved in their political BS, it’s a game and it’s entertainment and if it continues fans will lose interest and the NFL will pay dearly. So suck it up and show your protest off the field.
Derek Sanderson, 50, Arizona: Trump is attacking the constitution, not defending it
As a veteran and descendant of many who served their country honorably in WWII, including the Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Bulge, I fully support the players in their peaceful expression of free speech, a right enshrined as the very first amendment to our constitution. Although the president enjoys the same rights of free speech as any other citizen, he holds the highest executive office in our system of government, charged with enforcing its laws and constitution. Using the power of his office as a bully pulpit, to coerce citizens into silence by applying economic pressure against those with whose speech he disagrees, is a violation of his oath of office. He is attacking the constitution, not defending it.
Jimmy, 65, Port Royal, SC: I want to watch a sports event for entertainment not to see a political forum
I think it is the wrong platform to use for protesting. The country is politically divided so half the audience is going to be displeased. I want to watch a sports event for entertainment not to see a political forum. I will not be watching NFL not because I agree or disagree with the protesters, but because they have taken the fun out of the game. Players are no longer larger than life talented athletes, but political activists. I tried to watch an NFL game, but couldn’t accept some players as anything more than an intermediary for social change and watched true crime shows instead.
Riley Michel, 32, US: It seems to be the last vestige of the first amendment being allowed to African Americans
Considering the fact that it is largely the only form of protest not being violently opposed by white nationalists or police in riot gear, it seems to me it is the last vestige of the first amendment being allowed to African Americans in the current socio-political climate. As it is an entirely peaceful and respectful method I struggle to see any real issue with it. Furthermore, considering the constitution lays out a very specific list of actions considered disrespectful towards the American flag, such as using it for marketing, holding it still, laying it flat, etc., which are all done by Trump and pretty much everyone else including the NFL, I see it as the highest hypocrisy to vilify Colin Kaepernick and other African American players for doing none of those things.
Rob W, 29, Charlottesville, VA: The message of racial inequality and injustice has not been conveyed well
They have the right to peacefully protest and to speak out however they want but the message of racial inequality and injustice is not, and has not been, conveyed well through them ‘taking a knee’. This has lead to division through misunderstanding in a realm where fans come from all socio-economic, racial, and gender backgrounds. While the first amendment gives the right of freedom of speech and to peaceably assemble, it’s confined between the people and the government. These protests are clearly outside that realm, so the NFL - as with any owner of private property - may restrict their players however they see fit within reason.
Amy, 62, New York: Being forced to stand at attention with a boot on your neck is not patriotism, it’s tyranny
I couldn’t care less. This obsession that some of my fellow Americans have with flags and anthems is downright creepy. I am white, middle class and relatively privileged. I say to the Colin Kaepernicks of the world: “Keep on keeping on, my brothers.” Being forced to stand at attention with a boot on your neck is not patriotism. It’s tyranny. These yahoos complaining that it disrespects the military are the worst of them all. Read a history book, fools. Good god, it’s just embarrassing to be American right now. Obviously Trump is the biggest moron of them all.
Tamara, 53, Kansas: Freedom of speech doesn’t mean they have that freedom only when I agree with them
I was upset when NFL players began kneeling during the national anthem. I thought they were being unpatriotic. Then I thought about the first amendment. Freedom of speech doesn’t mean they have that freedom only when I agree with them. It means everyone has the right to free speech whether I agree or not. That’s the whole point. Get your message across to people who may not agree with you in the hope that you can change their minds. In this case, I would say the football players’ protest is having the desired impact. The country is talking and people like myself are reevaluating former beliefs. So while I may not totally agree with their method of protest, I deeply respect their right to do so, and I have to admire the guts it takes for them to pull a stunt like that knowing a large portion of the country is going to hate them for it.
