Infograph by T. Lemon
Cat Gonzales
Lantern Staff
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out. He’s fired. He’s fired!’ said President Trump at a campaign rally in Huntsville, Alabama, on Friday, Sept. 22, according to The Washington Post. During the pregame, Colin Kaepernick kneeled and sang during the National Anthem to protest against police brutality as it concerns to people of color.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said, according to The Atlantic. “To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
The NFL rule book does not state anything about having to stand for the National Anthem.
“You used to not see the National Anthem shown on television at all, and now we see it before every NFL game,” freshman and Student Sports Media reporter Matthew Will said. “So, we can focus on the players who are making a stand.”
As some agree with the “Take a Knee” movement, there are others who do not. The Butler football coaches respectfully declined to be interviewed for this story. Football players and Student Sports Media staff, on the other hand, spoke out about this movement.
“I agree that they should peacefully protest whatever they like and whatever fashion we live in a country where we have the ability to do that,” Will said. “The problem I have with that is the media is looking at it. I think we let them be American citizens protest and how they like, it’s our job as media, but I don’t think (that) it’s right we should destroy them and make it look negative.”
On social media, former NFL fans can be found burning jerseys and expensive tickets to retaliate against those taking a knee during the National Anthem.
“I mean I’ve been asked this a lot,” sophomore Troy Dipre said “I personally don’t agree with taking a knee while playing. I can see people are not being treated as well by police officers, but I mean we see this past weekend everyone is standing again, locking arms and the whole team, the whole crowd and stadium is doing that. Everyone is talking about unity.”
A letter was sent to NFL Chief Executives Club’s President from Commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday, Oct. 10. During the National Anthem, Goodell states that everyone should stand, and that in the game, the most important part is the National Anthem.
“A NFL player who had a quote, he had played for the NFL for 11 years, and it was all over social media,” Dipre said. “He said that ‘a lot of these guys will take a knee to make a stand, and then if you go look at what they are doing outside in the real world, they are doing nothing to make a change or make a difference in their community. If you actually want to make a real impact in this society, which we are all trying to do, don’t just take a knee on the field. Do something in your society.”
