Several National Football League players have been trying to send a message to the public with their actions during the national anthem. Some fans are obsessing about whether players should take a knee, raise a fist or lock arms during the national anthem before games. However, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman said they should be talking about the reasons why players are protesting. It is because the recent news stories of police officers killing unarmed African- American people. Sherman says Americans should focus on the message being sent with this protesting.
Today we see a lot of protesting and opinions being stated all over social media. In the late 1960s the United States started to get involved in the Vietnam War, which started a lot of protests because people did not want to fight in a war that mainly did not concern them. In 1968, David O’Brien wanted to express his disapproval of the war (United States v. O’Brien). So, while standing outside the Boston Courthouse, he decided to burn his drafting card in front of quite a few people (United States v. O’Brien). He did this so he could exercise his first amendment right, which is the freedom of speech and/or press (United States v. O’Brien).
Tejinder Singh, writer and contributor of Scotus, argues that the stolen Valor Act is "unconstitutional because the government had not shown that the statute is necessary to protect the integrity of the system of military honors . . . [and] the Stolen Valor Act posed a significant—and perhaps unique—threat to protected speech. " On the contrary, the Stolven Valor Act does not violate the freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment, but instead enforces the appreciation of our soldiers. If Fields had been convicted because he preached that he deserved the Purple Heart and contributed as much as an eight-year veteran of the military, then the Stolven Valor Act would have violated his First Amendment rights because he would be denied to publically share his opinion, and thus denied his freedom of
Your article “NFL Protests: Stars Should Get off Their Knees and Lead a Constructive Conversation on Race” touches upon a recent event that has occurred not too long ago, involving an NFL player and the president of the United States. People need to focus more on stronger protests, rather than sticking to something simple that will probably not lead to much change. Kneeling down while singing the national anthem will lead to major consequences. To some extent I agree with your claim— stronger and louder actions, such as protest, will lead to a change.
Does the First Amendment, Free Expression Clause, apply to the New York State law against Criminal Anarchy, depriving Giltow of his liberty of expression under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment? Benjamin Gitlow, a member of the Socialist Party of America, advocated the overthrow of organized government by force, violence, and other unlawful means through his Left Wing Manifesto. He was arrested and charged with criminal Anarchy, “the policy that organized government should be overthrown by force or violence... or by any unlawful means. The advocacy of such doctrine either by word of mouth or writing is a felony”. Gitlow argued that the New York law was an unconstitutional limit forced by the state on the rights guaranteed
Why Tom Brady Should Not Have Been Suspended Researching this topic, I found a few qualified authors that discussed this topic. These authors provide information and statistics on how the NFL handles these issues poorly and why Tom Brady shouldn't have been suspended. These articles also explain how the suspension process went through with in depth facts of the events that happened over the year and a half long scandal. The authors of the articles have qualified opinions about the law and how the league should have handled it due to their policies.
There are three main ideas that every American takes pride in, which is their country, freedom, and military. Americans holds their heads high when it comes to its military. From the Army, to the Marines, to the Navy Seals, and all the other branches of military, Americans are both proud and fully supportive of its troops. Sadly, that pride was shaken on April 22, 2004 when famous NFL player and former Army Ranger, Pat Tillman was killed in Afghanistan over friendly fire. After Tillman’s death, the Army tried several time to cover up Pat’s actual cause of death to try and use him for propaganda recruitment purposes.
Colin told the media the reason that he did not stand for the national anthem was because he refused to stand for a country that oppresses black people. Colin Kaepernick also stated, "To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street, and people getting paid leave, and getting away with murder”. The 49ers then issued a statement about Colin Kaepernick's decision stating, "The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pre-game ceremony. It is an opportunity to honor our country and reflect on the great liberties we are afforded as its citizens.
In August 2016, was Kaepernick’s first time sitting on the bench during the National Anthem. He stated, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” Kaepernick has every right to exercise his right to freedom of speech, and express his views on the challenges the nation is facing as far as racism, violence, and poverty. Colin Kaepernick made around $11.9 million in the year of 2016.
The current debate over kneeling or sitting in protest during the National anthem ignited by Colin Kaepernick in 2016 has escalated to become a nationally divisive issue. Colin Kaepernick, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers refuse to stand during “the Star Spangled Banner” Aug. 2016, to protest against racial injustice and police brutality in the United States. These athletics that chose not to stand for the national anthem because there was a message they wanted to send. Needless to say, an individual has a right to believe as they so choose. Kaepernick along with many others feel that not standing for the national anthem is a peaceful way to protest and release their feelings.
Freedom can be defined in many different ways, the dictionary definition, meaning the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint may be how you see freedom. One thing most of the people in the world would agree on is that freedom throughout the world. Both Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” speech and Kennedy’s inaugural address discuss upholding freedom in the world. However, Roosevelt’s speech talks about supporting war in the efforts to maintain peace, whereas Kennedy’s speech talks about using more peaceful means like negotiating and coming to an agreement. Roosevelt gave his “Four Freedoms” speech in 1941.
“... O say does that star spangled banner yet wave, o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Nearly every American can recite the final lines of our National Anthem. However, few take the time to truly contemplate the meaning of these words. When I hear these phrases, I think of the principles on which our country was founded: the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. But perhaps more important than these rights are the defenders of them: our veterans.
Throughout the history of humans themselves, we have always had that little spark of rebellion in us, that one fiery coal that can easily ignite the flames of revolution. Even today, in our somewhat sophisticated world, we see bits and pieces of rebellion in pop culture and around the globe. Even the National Football League (NFL) hosts rebellious players who need to get their points and beliefs across. Colin Kaepernick, a football player who wanted to make a stand for the mistreatment of African-American citizens, decided to kneel when our country’s national anthem was being played. He started a tidal wave of kneeling anthem protests following the same suit as he did.
“Feigning Free Speech on Campus” is a 2012 op-ed article written by Greg Lukianoff, an attorney with a passion for First Amendment Rights. Lukianoff brings up points that are just as valid today as they were 4 years ago. Youth voter participation is low and it is impossible to ignore the effects of educational institutions hampering inquiry and expression of the students. The main claim to this issue is not simply that colleges engage in some degree of free speech repression, but that the methods implied on campuses are no less that any other institution that controls and influences public awareness of political issues. Lukianoff is successful and effective in his appeal to his target audience of young adults.
During the first three preseason games of the 2016 NFL season, Colin Kaepernick formerly quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers sat through the national anthem in protest of police brutality towards African American individuals. When asked about it, Kaepernick said, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour.” News outlets immediately attacked
