As Americans, have professional athletes and those in the stands been obligated to stand for the playing of the national anthem? A recent peaceful protest by NFL players shows them kneeling or sitting during the playing of the national anthem. Some are all for the players expressing their rights, while others believe it is extremely disrespectful.
Based on your knowledge of events occurring in America, would you take action or protest? To some, the answer is obviously yes. They believe that racism is tearing our country apart. Julius Thomas, tight end for the Miami Dolphins, states, "I 've got a daughter and she 's going to have to live in this world. And I gotta do what I got to do to make sure she can look at her dad and be like 'Hey, you did something to try and make a change. '" Other citizens, however, strongly disagree, including the president. In a statement made by president Trump at a rally in Alabama, he comments, "Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that [explicit] off the field right now. Out. He 's fired. He 's fired!"
Players in the NFL are kneeling during the playing of the national anthem before games because of racial injustice and the mistreatment of minorities in the country. Colin Kaepernick,
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Many people involved in the United States government have made statements that do not support the actions of players. This includes that of Steve Mnuchin, the United States Secretary of the Treasury, who stated, “...owners should have a rule that players should have to stand in respect for the national anthem,” and that players “can do free speech on their own time.” Another statement was issued on Twitter by Steve King, a Republican congressman from Iowa. He says, “Pro-Players have the right to freedom of speech. Owners do, too. And should exercise it by firing