NFL Takes a Knee

Numerous NFL players have been taking a knee during the national anthem during this year’s season. Players throughout the league have been kneeling, locking arms, and have even refused to come out of the locker room for the national anthem.

The protesting for the National Anthem got out of hand and more serious after Twitter posts by President Donald Trump.

    President Trump spoke towards the NFL, telling them that they should change the policy but many teams still protest the National Anthem. Some teams haven’t been going along with the NFL but they have their own reasons.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made a speech saying that the players should stand for the anthem and not kneel.

 Some teams and players are kneeling due to a racial inequalities they feel are prominent in the U.S. Others kneel just to support their teammates.

     In 2009, players in the NFL started to come out of the locker rooms to stand for the national anthem. Before then they would stay in the locker rooms to get ready and have team talks. When a new president took office in 2009, eight years after the attacks of September 11, 2001, the players started to emerge from their locker rooms to give the NFL a patriotic image.

    The United States flag code states that everyone who is present to the anthem except those in uniforms, should stand with their right hands over their hearts and remove headwear.

The flag code also states that kneeling or sitting during the anthem is a conduct violation but isn’t a form of disrespect. It is advised to stand, but it isn’t a necessary rule.

Things that are listed as disrespectful in the flag code are wearing the flag as a costume or athletic uniform, using the flag as any form of an advertisement, and having the flag on wearing apparel. Many Americans are guilty of this when they wear the American flag as clothing, use the flag in advertisements, and more.

    “I feel it’s pretty disrespectful to our country, they are playing in a league that is created by America and they should respect the flag. And I feel if they want to protest they can do it elsewhere,” Griffen Puhl, freshman player on frosh/soph football.

Some say it is disrespectful to the flag and our country and athletes should do it somewhere else if they really believe in it.

They should all stand and honor the flag for the men and women serving our country. Others say it is for a good cause and they are doing it for the right reasons.

It is not against the flag or anything to do with the flag, it’s the idea that the players are protesting against police brutality.

    “I’m for it, I think it’s their constitutional right to go do it and I don’t really think it is a protest against the flag,” said Ben Davidson, junior and Varsity football player.  

“They came out and said that they are not protesting the flag but they are protesting how they feel that they are disproportionately targeted by the police,”  

    Other professional athletes are beginning to kneel and protest with the NFL. Some sports like soccer and baseball have athletes who are taking a knee.

The athletes believe that they can make a difference by showing their support on live television and kneeling for what they believe in.