NFL Takes a Knee in Response to Injustice

In 2016, Colin Kaepernick, former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, began the movement of kneeling during the National Anthem. The peaceful protest triggered outrage across the United States as other NFL players participated, for it was viewed as “disrespectful” to the country and those who fought for it; however, the protest itself inflicts no harm upon others, as it consists merely of those who wish to exercise their guaranteed right to free expression in order to protest the oppression of black people and/or people of color. The protests are not disrespectful, so long as it’s not the protestors’ intent to disrespect others.

Colin Kaepernick made it abundantly clear that the protest was intended to stand up against injustice. The message of the “Take a Knee” protest has been widely distorted and misinterpreted.

“It went from police brutality to disrespecting soldiers, which is obviously not the intent of the protestors,” Jerome Douglas said.

As mentioned, the protestors are utilizing their celebrity status to promote social change and fight against black oppression in the country ironically labeled as the “Land of the Free.” If anything, the protest shows an even greater amount of respect to veterans by showing that those who fought for the country fought for equality rather than injustice.

“They fought for freedom,” Lornell Brown said. “You can’t fight for something and then go against what you fought for. That’s paradoxical.”

The protest is known for being peaceful; therefore, it brings no harm to those who stand idly by and watch. Those who have claimed to be offended by the protest have allowed the protest to have that effect on them. Offense can never be given, only taken.

“Why would you take offense to something that doesn’t directly affect you when you can just respect the cause?” Lornell Brown said.

To those who have taken offense to the NFL Take a Knee Protest: respecting the veterans means respecting the rights that they fought for. Freedom of expression is a guaranteed right for American citizens, and protestors should not be frowned upon for exercising that right.