Is Kneeling Really Disrespectful to the American Flag?

During a rally in Huntsville, Alabama, on Friday September 22, 2017, President Donald Trump blasted NFL athletes who kneeled during the national anthem, proceeding to call them “sons of *******,” who are disrespecting American culture, and called for owners of these clubs to fire or suspend any player who continues to kneel during the Star Spangled Banner. Saturday September 23, 2017 the president went to twitter calling for football fans to protest at NFL games when a player is kneeling.

President Trump’s harsh words struck anger within NFL players, coaches, and staff of the NFL’s football clubs. Many teams across the NFL outpoured unity and love for one another during the national anthem by linking arms, kneeling, or not even bothering to leave their own locker room during the play of the anthem. This was in response to an ignorant president who is attempting to snatch the rights away from Americans, and these professional athletes, who wanted to shine light on violence and brutality against African American people in the country they call home.

As an American, we are born with unalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They cannot be taken away, no matter if it’s a random person on the streets, or the President of the United States. Sometimes people forget, including Donald Trump, that athletes are people with feelings and values, and should not fear or back down from someone who is threatening them to stay in their place.

The First Amendment, created by James Madison in 1789, states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Meaning, these athletes who assemble peacefully, and are granted the freedom of speech, are doing no wrong by kneeling during the national anthem. As an American, it is anybody’s right to kneel and to speak out against anything they would like. Why? Because, it’s our prerogative as Americans.

There are many codes or rules of the flag code, so many that it would take so long for me to list, but a few are: “Position and manner of display,” “conduct during hoisting, lowering, or passing the flag,” and “time and occasion of display.” Nowhere in the flag code, does it state that kneeling during the Star Spangled Banner is a violation of the the flag code, and until there is a violation keeping these players from kneeling, these athletes are committing no wrong.

Some people might say a flag code rule is “respect for flag,” and kneeling is a sign of disrespect because it’s insulting men and women who have given their lives for this country. However, many NFL athletes have spoken on this argument by mentioning that them kneeling is not to disrespect one’s who have served this country or continue to, but they are kneeling because of the African American communities that are treated differently than other races in the United States.

Although President Donald Trump attempted to split the NFL apart during his weekend rant, NFL teams came together in unity against Trump and his harsh words, and it seems that they will continue their acts of unity through the upcoming weeks. Professional athletes, as Americans, have first amendment rights that include the freedom of speech and assembly. Unless those amendments are suddenly taken away, athletes should continue with their stance.