NFL Protests
In the last two years, players in the National Football League (NFL) has been protesting against social injustice and citing racial profiling in the league. The protests started in 2016 when NFL player Colin Kaepernick when he sat and then knelt during the national anthem. After this incidence, more players in the league have joined the protest and kneel to articulate their stand regarding social injustices such as racism and police brutality (Coaston 1). The NFL protests are also against corporations in the United States that support or promote racial sentiments in society. As such, NFL protests articulate injustices committed by politicians and corporations such as Nike. On the other hand, conservatives have been vocal to express their discontentment with the protests, and many of them urge the National Football League to fire or punish players who disregard the national anthem and the American flag. Considering the feud that has been stirred by the protests, it is evident that the protests are nowhere near the end. Therefore, it is important that the NFL and other stakeholders in the matter allow players to kneel as a sign of free speech that is provided for in the constitution.
The issue of players and athletes protesting regarding social injustices is not a new phenomenon in the United States. For example, in 1968 John Carlos and Tommie Smith, bronze and gold medalists respectively, protests against racial discrimination by raising their fists during the national anthem (Glaton 4). The protest by the pair medalists indicated injustices that were directed towards families of the lower and middle classes. Both Smith and Carlos were suspended for their nonconforming behaviors towards the flag as well as the United States. Since then, there have been protests by players and athletes in the country and beyond. Therefore, protests by athletes and players have been evident in high school, amateur and professional sports leagues.
Considering the size of the National Football League and its influence in the United States, players protests are deep-rooted and have far-reaching effects. For example, the NFL protests are accompanied by other challenges in the league such as the concussion crisis that impacts negatively on players’ careers. In this regard, players are a concern that injuries while playing affect their contracts as they are not paid according to the initial agreements. As Coaston (3) his is perceived as discrimination as other leagues are treated better concerning injuries and contracts. Therefore, the protests illustrated by the NFL players indicate discrimination especially because the league comprises of players from different ethnical backgrounds. Thus, NFL protests to suggest social injustices in the United States have a large audience, which could be influenced to initiate further protests and riots.
The NFL protests have attracted the attention of various groups and organizations across the country. For example, people with conservative attitudes perceive the kneeling gesture by NFL players as an expression of free speech, which is provided for by the constitution. Thus, players are expressing their feelings and attitudes towards injustices that they face such as discrimination or giving opinions regarding various social and political topics (Pena 6). On the other hand, people opposing the kneeling gesture by NFL players as a means to politicize sports. In this regard, the protests are perceived as symbolic of how the United States has allowed liberalism to go unchecked. As a result, anti-American sentiments are spread in social spaces and sports. For example, in 2017 the Vice President, Mike Pence left Indianapolis and 49ers game when players protested by kneeling during the national anthem. After the incidence, Mike Pence was vocal in expressing his dissatisfaction with the players and urged the NFL officials to take actions against these players (Martin 6). Afterwards, the protests have attracted political backlashes as high political figures have been involved in the aftermath of the protests.
Nonetheless, NFL officials, owners, and the players have tried to resolve the issue and put the matter to bed. In this regard, the NFL officials and owners agreed anonymously that players are expected to stand during the national anthem as a sign of patriotism. This policy agreement by officials and owners applied to players on the pitch and those on the sidelines. On the other hand, players who were uncomfortable with the national anthem were allowed to remain in the locker rooms during the national anthem. This policy by officials and owners was to prevent spreading of the protests considering that NFL games are televised and attended by thousands of fans. However, the decision was unwelcomed by the players and those that opposed the protests (Coaston 7). For example, the players perceived the decision as curtailing their freedom of speech and expression. Consequently, politicians and other patriots perceived the decision as inadequate and ineffective to eliminate the protests. Thus, more punitive measures were proposed such as a ban from the league as the kneeling gesture is compared to Nazi salutes. The stand-off between the players, the officials, and other involved parties means that the protests are not over unless approaches to end the feud are implemented.
Colin Kaepernick and other protesting NFL players indicate the larger discussion in the United States and the world at large (Martin 4). The discussion that the players are bringing on the table is that of the centrality of the issue of racism in the United States, historically and to date. Thus, NFL players can be seen as racial realists who are against the double-standard treatment of citizens based on racial profiling. From a critical perspective, it is evident that NFL protests indicate the large picture where societies and communities are becoming aware of their rights; hence feel empowered to speak out when they are mistreated. According to Hunter (7), the issue of racism has been dealt with for years, and through many platforms, the involvement of the players in the discussion provides another platform of addressing racism and current oppressions to particular social groups. Therefore, the government, NFL officials and the owners should view the gesture of kneeling during the national anthem as loyalty to what is right and a step towards social change. Thus, allowing players to kneel during the national anthem will not only end the current stand-off but allow guarantee freedom of speech and expression to the players.
Consequently, NFL officials’ decision to allow players to kneel during the national anthem will serve as a step forward in enhancing coexistence peacefully amidst social diversity Characteristic in the United States. For example, in recent years, the country has experienced a series of controversial and publicized police brutality and shootings towards African Americans. As a result, names such as Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Philando Castille and Trayvon Martins are still fresh in the minds of citizens and also players from these communities. This indicates that racism tensions are still evident in various states as marginalized communities are treated differently from the rest. Therefore, to restore trust in various institutions, both governmental and private such as sports and entertainment, there is a need to formulate policies that accommodate the diverse nature of these institutions (Pena 11). Thus, one feasible approach is allowing NFL players to kneel or sit during the national anthem as a way of acknowledging their input and position in society. If the players are allowed to kneel during the national anthem, the matter will cease to attract the attention of other uninvolved parties, and the gesture will be merely perceived as freedom of speech and expression.
As evident in the text, NFL protests have proved to be another front that is fighting social injustices in the United States. This is not a new phenomenon in sports, and various sports group in schools, amateur, and professional leagues have initiated such protests in the past. The issue with the current NFL protests is that the feud between patriotic conservatives, the players, the government and human rights activists are involved. For such, the kneeling of players during the national anthem is politicizing sports or disrespecting the nation. On the other hand, people and especially those affected by racial prejudice perceived the protests as a means of speech and expression that is provided in the constitution. Also, the fact that the NFL games are televised and attended by thousands of fans, there is widespread and backlash of the protests. Therefore, the viable and feasible solution to the feud is by allowing NFL players to kneel during the anthem reduce publicity that is attracted by the protests. It will also be a step forward in promoting social justice and peaceful coexistence amidst cultural diversity.
Works Cited
Coaston, Jane. Two years of NFL protests explain: Why a protest against racial injustice became a political hot potato. 2018. https://www.vox.com/2018/8/15/17619122/kaepernick-trump-nfl-protests-2018
Glanton, Dahleen. In new national anthem policy, the NFL tramples on First Amendment values. Chicago Tribune, 2018, May 28. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/glanton/ct-met-dahleen-glanton- memorial-day-flag-20180525-story.html
Hunter, Jack. Taking a Stand on One Knee: A Content Analysis Study of the San Francisco 49ers’ National Anthem Protests. 2018. https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8456&context=etd_theses
Martin, Lori Latrice. The Politics of Sports and Protests: Colin Kaepernick and the Practice of Leadership. American Studies Journal. 2018. http://www.asjournal.org/64-2018/the-politics-of-sports-and-protest-colin-kaepernick-and-the-practice-of-leadership/
Pena, Vincent. Taking a stand by kneeling: An analysis of national anthem protest coverage. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 2017. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1056&context=journalismdiss