As
NFL players continue to peacefully protest racial injustice in the United
States, football fans have started a counter protest. The controversial issue
of athletes taking a knee during the National Anthem has generated anger from both
the president and sport fans. At games across the country this past weekend, fans
in attendance displayed what’s being referred to as “pro-National Anthem
views.” Fans expressed their anger and resentment towards athletes who are
taking a stance against police brutality by standing with signs that voiced
their frustration towards the protest and calling athletes out as being disrespectful
and unpatriotic. Fox News showed pictures of signs that read “‘Don’t be a jerk’
stand up” and “I will stand,” while President Trump has taken to social media to
encourage the NFL to take action against players who protest. These counter
protests are exemplary of our class discussions about constitutional rights and
freedom of speech. The controversy over these protests further displays the
history and conflict between freedom of speech and race.
The
constitutional right to free speech has historically and continues to expose
divisions within the United States, shedding light on the strained relationship
between freedom of speech and race. Claims that athletes who kneel during the
anthem are disrespecting the flag is counter to the free speech the American flag
is symbolic of. However, such opposition is not surprising as kneeling during the
anthem is a stance against racial injustices and poses a threat to traditional white
thought and authority. Criticizing kneeling during the National Anthem speaks
to the discomfort felt towards free speech that is associated with issues
surrounding race. The negative backlash athletes have received due to their
stance against racial injustice affirms the idea that these assertions of free
speech increase dramatically when that speech challenges racist tactics.
Claiming
that kneeling during the anthem is unpatriotic and disrespectful is an attempt
to overshadow the larger issues at hand and avoid the discomfort of talking
about racial injustices. What “pro-National Anthem views” fail to recognize is
that kneeling during the anthem is not intended to disrespect our country, but
rather it is a stance against racism and a fight towards equality. This protest
is not a question of patriotism and respect but a matter of race, injustice,
and constitutional rights. It is intended to call upon the citizens and leaders
of this country to recognize the injustices taking place and begin to change
the confines of African American rights. No matter how a protest takes place,
it is going to spark backlash from those that are blinded by the matter and
inflicting punishment to those engaging in peaceful protest would be a denial
of constitutional rights.
WC: 450
I Pledge Olivia
Holmes
Hey Olivia you might find this article I read earlier today interesting!
ReplyDeleteThis weekend Pence went to the Indy vs 49ers game and left early because of protests. The cost for his air travel alone to go from Vegas to Indy and then Indy to LA was about $242,500. Without stopping for the game it would have been around $45,000 (Air Force 2 is expensive). Many think this was a very expensive PR stunt. Regardless it shows how some people have much greater access to free speech and it also shows the extent to which people are willing to go to suppress others freedom of speech.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/08/politics/pence-indianapolis-flights-cost/index.html
Thanks for the article Rachel. I find it interesting that Vice President Pence left because he did not want to "dignify" the protest. His word choice here is a bit shocking to me as it seems to undermine the worth and efforts of those that are standing up for what they believe in, which in this case is justice and equality. I agree with you that his actions demonstrate that the disproportionate access to and acceptance of free speech.
DeleteI would also like to add that the President and Vice President have no problem criticizing kneeling during the National Anthem, but struggle to denounce the gathering of white supremacists. It is frightening and saddening that they are unable to fully condemn the gathering of hate groups, but are willing to go to extreme lengths to shame peaceful demonstrations for justice and equality.
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