Last year, former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the playing of the National anthem on multiple occasions. His reasoning: a silent and peaceful demonstration against police violence towards minorities in America.
Kaepernick’s actions were not disruptive to the game in any way and his actions are protected under the first amendment. However, Kaepernick was fired for his participation in the protest against racial violence. Since then many violent attacks and riots against people of color have occurred in the United States, the most recent and publicized one being the Charlottesville riots.
Last week, Trump, publically stated that any NFL player who knelt during the National Anthem was a “son of a bitch” and the demanded that owners fire any rebellious players. After this statement, the number of athletes that are kneeling or refraining from being present on the field during the playing of the national anthem had increased and while the reason the players are protesting has remained the same, Trump insists that they have some ulterior motive.
He has since then publicly insisted that any players that kneel during the anthem are “disrespecting our FLAG and GREAT COUNTRY” this is directly from his twitter page, which we all know by now is his main source of communication.
Some citizens have followed in the steps of Trump and condemned the NFL allowance of its players to protest the flag. However, these players are not protesting the flag, they are in fact protesting the inaction against racial violence by a system that has promised to protect all Americans.
I personally find it strange that Trump has time and time again remained impartial and mute on actions made by Neo-Nazis and white supremacists, who clearly do not understand the meaning of freedom and justice for ALL, but has violently lashed out against people who peacefully protest for change in America.
I hope that Donald Trump can find the errors in ways and do his duty as president and protect the rights of ALL the people instead of attacking them.
And as a word of advice to Trump, I leave these wise words spoken by President JFK, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable” Here’s hoping that Trump will find it in his heart to be a man for all the people and not just some.
#Taketheknee
