Trump’s Attack on NFL Sparks Worldwide Controversy
NFL players are taking a knee or locking arms during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial oppression. Police brutality has become a huge issue in the United States because of social media coverage. These videos, which have gone viral, show police abusing the law and shooting unarmed African American men. But these officers often end up serving little to no prison time. Athletes all across the NFL are kneeling in a show of defiance against Donald Trump and his remarks. Social media has become a battlefield for the people to show solidarity with the players, or to express their disgust. Due to Donald Trump’s attack on the NFL protest, people from all around the world are …show more content…
More than three million tweets have gone out with the hashtag “#TakeAKnee and #TakeTheKnee” (Mclaughlin). In Oakland, California “Members of the Oakland unified school district honor Band” knelt as they performed “the national anthem before an MLB American League baseball game” (Mindock). In Nashville, Tennessee, Meghan Linsey knelt after singing the national anthem. In the Prague Czech Republic, Nick Kyrgios joined NFL stars by dropping his knee before his laver cup match. Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem in Atlanta, Georgia. “Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, took a knee on the House floor Monday night in solidarity with NFL players who knelt during the National Anthem following President Donald Trump's criticism of the protest” (Lang). The protest is not aimed at the military and many veterans have gone to social media to show their support: “our brave soldiers didn't fight and die so that everyone stood during the national anthem. They fought so people could have the right to make a choice about whether or not they wanted to stand. That's the whole damn point of the First Amendment” (Cillizza). “John Middlemas, a 92-year-old World War II veteran from Missouri . . . knelt on Sunday in solidarity with players. His photo went viral with a quote: “Those kids have every right to protest”
NFL players are taking a knee or locking arms during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial oppression. Police brutality has become a huge issue in the United States because of social media coverage. These videos, which have gone viral, show police abusing the law and shooting unarmed African American men. But these officers often end up serving little to no prison time. Athletes all across the NFL are kneeling in a show of defiance against Donald Trump and his remarks. Social media has become a battlefield for the people to show solidarity with the players, or to express their disgust. Due to Donald Trump’s attack on the NFL protest, people from all around the world are …show more content…
More than three million tweets have gone out with the hashtag “#TakeAKnee and #TakeTheKnee” (Mclaughlin). In Oakland, California “Members of the Oakland unified school district honor Band” knelt as they performed “the national anthem before an MLB American League baseball game” (Mindock). In Nashville, Tennessee, Meghan Linsey knelt after singing the national anthem. In the Prague Czech Republic, Nick Kyrgios joined NFL stars by dropping his knee before his laver cup match. Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem in Atlanta, Georgia. “Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, took a knee on the House floor Monday night in solidarity with NFL players who knelt during the National Anthem following President Donald Trump's criticism of the protest” (Lang). The protest is not aimed at the military and many veterans have gone to social media to show their support: “our brave soldiers didn't fight and die so that everyone stood during the national anthem. They fought so people could have the right to make a choice about whether or not they wanted to stand. That's the whole damn point of the First Amendment” (Cillizza). “John Middlemas, a 92-year-old World War II veteran from Missouri . . . knelt on Sunday in solidarity with players. His photo went viral with a quote: “Those kids have every right to protest”