Day 19

Fresh Start_19: Social Protest
By now everyone should be aware of the protest that is going on in the NFL. Players are taking a knee during the National Anthem before each game as a protest for the unjust acts against African Americans in the U.S. This was of course started by Colin Kaepernick back in week one of the NFL preseason. Eric Reid has joined his teammate in the protest along with several over NFL players and even athletes outside the NFL. The most notable is U.S. Women’s soccer player Megan Rapinoe. I am not going to sit here and say that this protest is not working, because clearly it is, or else I wouldn’t still be talking about it. In fact, what Kapernick has done will now be one of the major storylines throughout the NFL season to see who joins in on the protest.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane joined in the preseason, and most recently Denver Broncos Linebacker Brandon Marshall. If you didn’t watch on Thursday night; the camera was pointed Marshalls’ way for most of the anthem. Unlike recent years where it would be fixed on the performer who is singing or the crowd with flags or singing along. And NBC or whoever is broadcasting the game has the right to train their cameras on whomever they want, but it just seems to strengthen the message and the narrative along with it. Which I am not saying is bad, I happen to believe in non-violate social protesting, I just so happen to disagree with the process and excision of this one.
Which brings me to my main point, I have some strong feelings toward the words that Marshall said after the game about him taking a knee for the anthem. “I’m not against the police or America. I just don’t like social injustice.” Well I hate to break it to you Brandon, but you can’t pick and choose what you like or don’t like about a social protest. You can’t participate and dictate the rules of the protest if you were not the one to start it. Kaepernick has painted the picture of this protest and if you want to participate you will have to endure the same questions and be scrutinized the same way. You might like police and the country very much, but as long as you are kneeling during the National Anthem you will be in the same socks and wearing the same shirt as Colin Kaepernick. Another thing I don’t like about this process is that Brandon Marshall lost an endorsement over this. Granted it was the Air Force Federal Credit Union, but no players should be fined our losing endorsements over a social protest. It is likely that Marshall won’t be the last athlete to lose an endorsement over this; but it just doesn’t seem right. Let the players participate in this protest even if you are not a fan. It is their constitutional right to do so.
Sources:( foxsports.com, profootballtalk.nbcsports.com)

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