President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Friday after seeing NFL players continuing their peaceful protest during the national anthem on Thursday. President Trump would be very critical of the players’ decision:
The NFL players are at it again – taking a knee when they should be standing proudly for the National Anthem. Numerous players, from different teams, wanted to show their “outrage” at something that most of them are unable to define. They make a fortune doing what they love……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2018
…..Be happy, be cool! A football game, that fans are paying soooo much money to watch and enjoy, is no place to protest. Most of that money goes to the players anyway. Find another way to protest. Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be Suspended Without Pay!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2018
Among the players who protested during Thursday night’s games included Philadelphia Eagles’ safety Malcolm Jenkins, who raised a fist during the anthem before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Miami Dolphins’ wide receivers Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson both kneeled during the anthem, and Dolphins’ defensive end Robert Quinn stood with a raised fist before the team’s exhibition matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
According to ESPN, Stills said that the protest was not planned by him nor Wilson before their game against Tampa Bay.
“It just happened that way,” Stills said, “When I’m on a knee, most of the time I’m praying, and thank God for having Albert next to me. Being a part of this protest hasn’t been easy. I thought I was going to be by myself out there. Today I had an angel with me with Albert being out there. I’m grateful he sees what’s happening, and he wants to do something about it as well.”
Other players who protested the anthem included Seattle Seahawks’ left tackle Duane Brown and defensive linemen Quinton Jefferson and Branden Jackson, who stayed in the locker room during the anthem before their game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Jacksonville Jaguars’ Telvin Smith, Jalen Ramsey, Leonard Fournette, and T.J. Yeldon remained in the tunnel when the national anthem played before the team’s home game against the New Orleans Saints.
Lastly, Baltimore Ravens’ linebacker Tim Williams would stand alone in front of the bench with his back toward the field as his teammates stood for the anthem.
These protests stem from former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who began the peaceful protests against racial inequality during the 2016 season.
The NFL announced a policy in May that all players who are on the field while the national anthem was being performed had to stand, or they could remain in the locker room without penalty. Since then the policy has been put on hold and the NFL Players Association and the league have agreed to hold off on the enforcement of the national anthem policy until there is an agreement made regarding the policy.
League spokesman, Brain McCarthy, released a statement regarding the protests:
“There has been no change in the NFL’s policy regarding the national anthem. The anthem will continue to be played before every game, and all player and non-player personnel on the field at that time are expected to stand during the presentation of the flag and performance of the anthem. Personnel who do not wish to do so can choose to remain in the locker room.”
“We remain committed to working with the players to identify solutions and to continue making progress on important social issues affecting our communities.”
With the players deciding to continue with the open protest, you now have to ask yourself how long before the league enforces the rule they wanted to set in place, and how will the players and teams respond?
