Jillian Rousseau
When I was 12 years old, I remember sitting with my mother and sister, watching the news and seeing that Timothy Loehmann, a police officer, shot a 12-year-old black boy named Tamir Rice.
This was the first time that I felt the impact of police brutality. From that moment on, I knew that my life was going to change as a biracial woman.
Every time I watch the news and hear that a person of color has been shot, I pray it is not due to the police force. According to Mapping Police Violence in 2017, police killed 1,147 people, and 25% of them were black people, who only make up 13.4% of the U.S. population.
This is a critical topic that has been recurring throughout history, and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided that it was time to take a stand.
Kaepernick kneeled during the national anthem, which created a wave of controversy. His actions made him lose everything, including his position as quarterback, fans and respect from others.
Kaepernick did not do this out of disrespect for anyone, but instead wanted to draw attention to police brutality against African Americans.
I, by no means, mean any disrespect towards police. In fact, my grandfather was a police officer for many years. However, both Kaepernick and I agree that we cannot stay silent when some police forces are not completing their duties to protect others.
Why would he want to salute a flag that states “for liberty and justice for all” when police are abusing their power? Since Kaepernick is an African American, he used his platform to make a statement that people are dying, and America needs to stop turning a blind eye.
People praised black leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks for their acts of peaceful protest. However, we still criticize modern day activists like Kaepernick, who are fighting for the same dream.
In 1965, civil rights activist MLK and his followers kneeled when protesters were arrested as they marched to the Dallas County Alabama courthouse. How does one believe in the teachings of MLK but does not stand with Kaepernick?
About 65 years ago, Rosa Parks displayed a peaceful protest when she sat on the white side of the bus. What do you think she would say to those who disagree with Kaepernick? In my eyes, it is hypocritical if you stand with her but do not stand with Kaepernick.
When you disrespect Kaepernick’s actions, you are also disrespecting the spirit of the First Amendment. The First Amendment is based on having the right to speak freely. Unfortunately, some private enterprises like the NFL take away that right and make their own “appropriate” guidelines for football players like Kaepernick.
However, that alone is unfair and I feel the NFL did a disservice to Kaepernick because they took a black man’s voice away.
Too many mothers and fathers have lost their children. It is heartbreaking to think that Rice drew his last breath because he was a black man holding a toy gun that was mistaken for a real gun. I hope that people see that what Kaepernick did was to save the lives of innocent people.
Sierra Barrios
Growing up, my parents always taught me to respect the flag. Whenever the national anthem played, they made me stop everything and put my hand on my heart no matter what else I was doing. With that being said, it truly shocks me to see athletes kneeling during the national anthem.
On Aug. 26, 2016, NFL star Colin Kaepernick opted to sit on the bench during the national anthem in protest against police brutality. After facing judgment from veterans and military personnel, Kaepernick attempted to show more respect by continuing his protests by kneeling instead. Many other NFL players joined the movement, which caused an uproar among some fans, even provoking a response from President Donald Trump.
It’s undeniable that despite the progress that society has made in the past few decades, police brutality is a horrific problem the U.S. still faces today. Without a doubt, racism is a disgusting and monumental issue that we need to work together to fight against.
Nevertheless, there are lines that both sides should not cross in the pursuit of a better nation, and kneeling during the national anthem is one of them.
While the First Amendment guarantees his right to protest, this form of protest is extremely offensive. Yes, something needs to be done about police brutality, but as someone who has veterans in the family, I can say that it’s absolutely wrong to disrespect one of the most sacred traditions of U.S. culture for the sake of a protest, albeit an important one.
Veterans have suffered enough for the U.S., and the fact that they’re still living to see something as simple as a football game is a miracle in itself. They make up a large percentage of our homeless population, don’t receive proper medical and psychiatric help and an average of 20 veterans take their own lives everyday, according to Veterans News Report. Showing respect during the national anthem is the least we can do to show them their sacrifices weren’t for nothing.
It’s important to remember that this isn’t about Kaepernick, the protest or the color of his skin. Not showing consideration and not putting a hand over one’s heart is shameful in any situation.
Even so, the flag stands for more than just the military. In an Esquire article on veterans’ responses to national anthem protests, Green Beret veteran Micheal Rodriguez says that the flag is a symbol for all Americans and the privileges they’ve been given.
“That flag represents everybody who has fought for any type of right in this country,” Rodriguez said. “That flag represents Martin Luther King, Jr. It represents Rosa Parks. It represents [Cesar] Chavez, who fought for labor rights for California farmers. It represents all of us.”
Some of the most famous activists in history, like Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., believed that the best way to make their point was by always being peaceful and respectful in hopes that it would be reciprocated.
Even though these protests have been peaceful, their respect is severely lacking. While their intentions may be good, it’s unfair, unjust and unacceptable for athletes to not show common courtesy towards our military, and more importantly, our country.