NFL Protests

Standing for the national anthem is currently extremely controversial for many sports. While players and coaches may be exercising their right to the freedoms that this country affords us, even if it is in peaceful protest, sitting and kneeling during the national anthem in an outcry to fix social injustice, inequality and police brutality is in turn disrespecting the country, military personnel, and the police that serve and protect us and our rights. These protests have sparked discussion but turned the attention away from honoring our nation and the troops that have served and currently serve to protect us, to individual players. Media continued to draw attention to those that knelt or sat during the national anthem and many networks have

NFL players and coaches as well as members of other teams have begun to kneel and sit during the national anthem as their way of peacefully protesting police brutality, inequality and the views of the President. Doing so has led to much discussion over the protest, current issues, and has gotten the attention of the President, who has made his views public. The protests began when one NFL quarterback began to sit on the bench during the national anthem and has escalated since, adding more players, teams, coaches, and even bands. After some time, the decision was made to kneel, rather than sit, to be more respectful towards those that serve and protect the country. This point acknowledges that sitting was disrespectful. Doing this protest at a time where people honor, remember, and unite draws attention away from doing so, with attention going to the players and what they are going to

They have a responsibility and a job to do. Part of that job is participating in pre- and post-game routines, practices and games. Some team owners have stated that if any of their team members sit or kneel during the national anthem, they will not play, and they will be fired. It is part of their job to participate. Instead of sitting or kneeling, those protesting could get more involved at community or even state levels to bring awareness or even be on committees that can promote change and equality. If these players have made attempts to create the change they are seeking and are not striving for attention, why are they not boycotting games as a