Since Colin Kaepernick decided to kneel over a year ago during the national anthem at a San Francisco 49ers game against the Green Bay Packers, the movement has unfurled into something much larger.
In the current season, over 200 NFL players have either knelt during the national anthem, or locked arms in solidarity with players who choose to do so.
Everyone seems to have something to say about it, from our ever-eloquent President:To Mitchel Musso:
And other famous figures have also expressed their support of the movement:
So why are so many football players kneeling?
Kaepernick started kneel in protest against racial injustice and police brutality against African Americans. He stated, “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.”
In light of this, many fellow players began to protest with him; however, the movement did not gain traction until Trump inadvertently became a catalyst for it. At a campaign rally in Alabama (Yes, he’s already campaigning for the 2020 election.), he stated that NFL players should be fired if they knelt during the anthem, referring to them, in true presidential fashion, as “sons of bitches.”
In response, many teams knelt as the national anthem played before the starts of their respective games, or linked arms in solidarity for players who wished to kneel. Some teams, such as the Steelers, did not even come out onto the pitch until after the anthem.
There are a lot of people that have construed this movement as disrespectful to the flag and to military servicemen and servicewomen, rather than seeing it as taking an active stance against the mistreatment of people of color. It should be noted that Kaepernick, who initially sat during the national anthem, decided to kneel as he thought this would make the action more respectful to the military.
Others seem to think that the act is a direct rebuke towards the President.
In the midst of the controversy, questions of freedom of speech come into play. Is it a player’s right to protest against what they believe is unjust? Is football the right arena to make a political statement?
President Trump does not seem to be backing down from his stance that it is unacceptable.
It remains to be seen whether the public, vehemently divided on this as with so many current political issues since Trump’s election, will begin to come together as protests continue.
Photo Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7