Just in time for the start of the NFL football season with preseason in August, 2018, the issue of the players’ kneeling during the national anthem begins a new again. Recently, the Miami Dolphins owners stated that the team intends to punish players who kneel or otherwise protest during the national anthem with up to a four game suspension and fines, according to documents obtained by USA Today. However, the team owner later retracted the statement and proposed plans for suspension or penalties. The local media covered the Dolphins intentions before there was the retraction. Meanwhile the New York jets took the opposite approach by emphatically stating the opposite of no intention to fine players for their right to peaceful protest under the First Amendment. Previously, the NFL intended to institute a policy of sanctions and requiring that players stand for the anthem—before the NFL Players Association (“NFLPA”) filed a grievance. The filing of the grievance resulted in … [Read more...] about A Study in Patriotism: Trump versus Colin Kaepernick
Colin Kaepernick
Black Lives Matter but not to the White NFL Owners
Week one of the NFL 2017 season started on Sunday, September 11. With all 32 NFL owners and teams refusing to sign quarterback Colin Kaepernick due to his protest against racial injustice, my taste buds for the love of football has drastically changed. Kaepernick’s act of kneeling last year for the national anthem in protest of our country’s racial injustice towards Blacks drew disfavor among NFL owners. I have been an ardent NFL football fan most of my life. Growing up in Baltimore, my family religiously followed the Baltimore Colts and now the Ravens. I proudly attended the Super Bowl parade in Baltimore in 2000 with the defensive dream team of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. And then in 2013, I watched my beloved Ravens’ win over San Francisco against then quarterback Colin Kaepernick. As an added bonus, I attended the Ravens’ honor at the White House following their 2013 win. My brother played high school and later college football—further increasing my love of the sport at a very early … [Read more...] about Black Lives Matter but not to the White NFL Owners
Colin Kaepernick Did the Right Thing
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to again sit down during the singing of the national anthem due to his stance against this country’s unfair, unjust and racist treatment of African Americans and people of color. And in the process, a firestorm has erupted on line and off line. Many support his stance and others decry that it is unpatriotic. Some question his motives. Others say that he should do more than just a silent protest. Then there are others who say the silent protest is inappropriate. Regardless of what persons think about Kaepernick’s actions, he has every right under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to protest in the manner that he chooses. It is really a mild form of protest—except that Kaepernick is a public sports figure. And that is causing the hail storm of comments and controversy. Kaepernick’s stance came about from his concern of police killing black people and people of color with impunity while continuing to receive … [Read more...] about Colin Kaepernick Did the Right Thing