Taking the Knee
What do you do when the pledge of allegiance comes on? Most people take off their hat, stand up straight, and put their right hand over their heart. Now the tradition has changed for many due to racial oppression developing in our country. Professional athletes and other supporters following the movement are now kneeling during our well known anthem.
All of this started because of San Francisco 49ers former quarterback, Colin Kaepernick’s decision to sit on the bench during the anthem. He later switched to the infamous kneel. When asked about his actions he responded with, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people, and people of color”. He is speaking in reference to the recent cases of police shooting of unarmed African Americans along with the constant brutality.
Kapernick, along with other athletes, are being punished and bashed because of this. People argue that they are expressing their rights given to them by the 1st amendment. The NFL has come to terms that they will not force player to stand, but some team owners are making threats to not give players playing time. The league is also being criticized for the lack of punishment of the kneeling players.
Our president, Donald Trump, has given his stance on the subject. Trump is infuriated with the league in which he stated in a tweet saying, “The NFL has decided that it will not force players to stand for the playing of our National Anthem. Total disrespect for our great country!”. Trump and many others have the same ideology due to the fact that they find it disrespectful to our country and those who served.
BY: Gisselle Curiel
