I chose to sacrifice my moment today at the top of the podium to call attention to issues that I believe need to be addressed. ), On September 11, Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters raised his fist while the rest of the team interlocked their arms showing solidarity. If nothing is said, nothing will be done, and nothing will be fixed, and nothing will be changed. [199], The NBA has a policy that requires players to stand up during the national anthem in their CBA, however many prominent players have expressed support for the NFL protests on social media or in interviews. [257][258] Hill was later put on a two-week suspension for "a second violation of our social media guidelines", after Hill suggested people direct their disagreements towards advertisers of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, after Jones stated he would bench any player who protested the national anthem on October 9, 2017. [164], On September 2, 2016, a football player at Brunswick High School in Ohio knelt during the national anthem after he heard his teammates saying "nigger". [52] Others said they took offense to Trump demeaning the integrity of their primarily African American colleagues, when a month earlier he had hesitated to condemn the white nationalists who protested in Charlottesville, Virginia and murdered a counter protester. [292] Though NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the vote was unanimous among all NFL owners, Jed York, the owner of the San Francisco 49ers and Kaepernick's previous team said he abstained. "[228] Nike's ad featuring Kaepernick read "Believe in something. Some say they're doing so in support of black victims of police violence while others explain that they're simply using their platforms to raise awareness about important issues such as social justice or even just showing pride in the United States flag. Did the Jets take a knee during the national anthem? [184] The Rays Twitter account had called for the arrest of the police officers involved in the shooting of Breonna Taylor prior to the first game. "[73] However, his protest began the day following Veterans Day, so he received criticism. [234], After his first kneel in 2016, Nike was well on its way to severing its four year long partnership with Kaepernick. [52][53] Other Republicans such as Florida senator Marco Rubio also expressed their discomforts against these policies as well. Thanks to the sacrifices of many, we live in a country of unparalleled freedoms and countless liberties, including the right to peacefully express one's opinion. Theres a saying from a Christian devotional book, Imitation of Christ, authored by Thomas A. Kempis, published in 1440 that goes. [41][42] The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) named Kaepernick the Week One MVP in September 2017 for his charity work related to the protest. [274] Shonda Rhimes posted a photo kneeling with the cast of Grey's Anatomy. FC Union Berlin. No other player has followed his lead since then, but many other reasons have been given for taking a knee or raising a fist during the song. ", "A timeline of Colin Kaepernick's national anthem protest and the NFL players who joined him", "NFL player protests sweep league after President Donald Trump's hostile remarks", "How national anthem became essential part of sports", "Title 36 United States Code: 301. [45], In September 2017 at a rally in Huntsville, Alabama, President Trump said NFL owners should fire players who kneel during the national anthem and encouraged fans to walk out. [97] On February 15, 2019, the grievance was settled by mutual confidential agreement between the parties. The 2002 World Cup was a long time ago. [125], Washington Football Team players knelt in unison during a moment of silence before standing during the Star-Spangled Banner. But when he fractured his tibia at the end of his junior season in high school, many other schools stopped pursuing him. [156] There have been almost no such incidents involving college football players, for the simple reason that college players and coaches are typically in the locker room when the anthem is played. During the national anthem, both teams stood with Indians players placing their left arms over each other's shoulders. When you hear one person say 'black lives matter' or 'blue lives matter,' all lives matter." Beginning in 2011, the Denver Broncos then-quarterback Tim I encourage others to please use your platforms for empowerment and change. [130], Jerick McKinnon and Richie James of the San Francisco 49ers both sat on the bench while the visiting Arizona Cardinals remained in the locker room. [272], Eddie Vedder, Pharrell Williams, Dave Matthews, John Legend and Roger Waters knelt to support the protests during concerts on September 24. Whats the worse that could happen? [148] On June 16, 2020, Aston Villa and Sheffield United contested the first English football fixture in 100 days, following the COVID-19 lockdown. #BlackLivesMatter t.co/Bboaowdou3", "Cleveland Indians stood for the national anthem. Garrett and Ervin are the only two African-American players on the Reds. [277], On October 11, 2018, Colin Kaepernick was awarded the W.E.B. Harbaugh wrote, "His willingness to take a position at personal cost is now part of our American story. [183] Ozzie Timmons and Rodney Linares of the Tampa Bay Rays both knelt as well. [27] There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.[26][27], After Kaepernick started his campaign to create awareness about excess police brutality towards minorities, especially African-Americans, commentators have mainly shifted focus to the patriotic aspect of kneeling rather than the meaning behind it; thus weakening Kaepernick's primary goal. Following this summer's Black Lives Matter protests over the death of George Floyd and the abrupt reversal of the national anthem, the New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills all remained in their respective locker rooms during the playing of the national anthem on Sunday afternoon. [160], On February 23, 2019, eight players of the Ole Miss men's basketball team took a knee during the national anthem at their home-game against Georgia. Other teams elected to remain in the locker room rather than take the field for the anthem. [137] In a subsequent match at the Washington Spirit, Spirit owner Bill Lynch anticipating Rapinoe's protest moved the national anthem's performance without warning or notice to occur before the players' appearances on the pitch. Following in Colin Kaepernick's footsteps, hundreds of NFL players took a knee during the national anthem to protest systematic racism and police brutality. And I think that's important. [240], Throughout the remainder of the 2016 season, Kaepernick received public backlash for his protest, with an anonymous NFL executive calling Kaepernick "a traitor". The entire Seattle Seahawks team stood and interlocked arms. He is currently working as a sports consultant for the largest sportswear company in America. In short, America is a culture based on beliefs in E Pluribus Unum (out of many, one), Liberty, and In God We Trust.. [116], Both the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks stood with their arms linked. The visiting Green Bay Packers remained in the locker room. College of the Ozarks president Jerry Davis announced in September 2017 that his college's teams would refuse to play any team whose players knelt during the anthem. [128] The home team Detroit Lions did the same with players either kneeling or leaving the field. [183], Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio, Anthony Alford and Santiago Espinal of the Toronto Blue Jays knelt during the anthem prior to their game against the Tampa Bay Rays. In May, Trump threatened to remove football league sponsorship deals if its players didn't stop kneeling during the anthem. It brings to mind another NFL figure who sacrificed his career. [246] Kaepernick said of the Terence Crutcher shooting, "this is a perfect example of what this is about. On September 24, 2017, the NFL protests became more widespread when over 200 players sat or knelt in reaction to Trump's call for owners to "fire" the protesting players. [231] John Schnatter of sponsor Papa John's Pizza blamed the protests for a drop in sales and a 24% fall in stock during 2017, saying that the "controversy is polarizing the customer, polarizing the country". Do you have to stand for the national anthem? [113] The league later announced plans to play "Lift Every Voice and Sing", also known as the Black national anthem, prior to "The Star-Spangled Banner" during Week 1 games. I promise you, it does happen. [17] In 2016 the NFL stated that "players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the National Anthem"; its game operations manual reads that players "should stand" for the anthem. [284] On May 31, Lieutenant Robert Cattani knelt during the protests in Lower Manhattan's Foley Square. [268][269] A UBS securities analysis show that the primary cause of the drop in the ratings from the NFL is mainly due to players protesting the national anthem. You dont have to agree with how or why he has chosen to exercise the 1st Amendment before every game to acknowledge the hours he gives voluntarily, on his day off, to serve his fellow Americans. NFL Players Gather at Midfield to Take a Knee - Then They Bow Their Heads. Settle Collusion Case", "Texans' Duane Brown on kneeling for anthem: Team felt sense of unity playing for each other", "Gaffes, TV ratings concerns dominated as NFL, players forged anthem peace", "Texans' Duane Brown says Bob McNair meeting 'didn't go too well', "NFL admits there was no official vote on national anthem policy, instead informal show of hands", "NFL expected to enact national anthem policy for '18", "Roger Goodell's statement on national anthem policy", "Donald Trump calls off Eagles' White House visit over national anthem dispute", "The Five Hours That Forced the NFL to Reconsider Its Anthem Policy", "Donald Trump Suggests Players Kneeling for Anthem Should Be Suspended for Entire Season", "Eric Reid not stopping with kneeling during anthem", "Kenny Stills took a knee for the national anthem", "Kenny Stills will continue to kneel during national anthem even if it costs him his job", "Miami Dolphins' Albert Wilson still kneels on the field", "NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says league was wrong for not listening to players earlier about racism", "Source: NFL plans to play Black national anthem before Week 1 games", https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article245626425.html#:~:text=Chiefs%20defensive%20end%20Alex%20Okafor,reason%20for%20his%20silent%20protest, "Texans stay in locker room while Chiefs stand for national anthem", "All 22 Seahawks and Falcons players take a knee during the opening kickoff to protest racial injustice", "Falcons stand during both anthems; Seahawks protest", "Patriots stand for national anthem as Dolphins follow through on commitment to staying in locker room", "Bills, Jets remain in locker room for national anthem, 'Lift Every Voice and Sing', "Many Ravens kneel during national anthem before opener in 'demonstration for justice and equality for all Americans', "Browns Myles Garrett, KhaDarel Hodge, Ronnie Harrison kneel during national anthem", "Vikings bring attention to social justice, and six players kneel for anthem", https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article245700855.html, "Raiders link arms for national anthem as some Panthers kneel in protest of police violence", "Eagles stay in locker room during national anthem; some Washington players raise a fist", "Jaguars remain in locker room during national anthem", "Bears take a mixed approach to the national anthem in Week 1 some stand, some kneel and some stay off the field", "Some Detroit Lions kneel, others leave field during national anthem before season opener", "Bengals players lock arms on field during national anthem ahead of home opener", "Two 49ers players sit for national anthem; Cardinals remain in locker room", "Saints stand for National Anthem during first home game", "Cowboys' Poe, Several Rams Kneel During National Anthem Ahead of Season Opener", "New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers make social justice statements prior to kickoff", "Gostkowski kick in final seconds gives Titans' 16-14 win at Denver", "Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals stand together for national anthem", "Megan Rapinoe takes knee in solidarity with Kaepernick", "Megan Rapinoe doesn't get chance to kneel for national anthem. Brees replied to Trump on Twitter that he has come to understand the protests were never about the American flag, and said it was wrong to use the flag to turn people away or distract people from issues facing African-Americans. In addition, the teams as a whole would be subject to punishment and other forms of discipline from the NFL as a result. What does it mean to be an American? After six seasons in Minnesota, Harris was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021. Why do football players kneel for the anthem. Are NFL players still kneeling during the Anthem or are they all standing now? Opinion on NFL players kneeling during national anthem in the U.S. 2020, by age Players with most passing touchdowns in NFL history 2022; Players in NFL history with most receiving yards 2022; Irv Cross, former NFL star and the first African American to work full-time as an analyst on national TV, had stage four brain disease CTE when he died aged 81, researchers say. 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