10 Clarifying #TakeaKnee Tweets as NFL Teams and Players Rebuff President Trump
If protests did nothing, the powerful wouldn’t try so hard to silence them.
(COMMONDREAMS) — With #TakeaKnee going viral on Sunday as NFL players push back against threats by President Donald Trump, those who support the president’s position that professional athletes—and especially black or brown professional athletes—should just do as they are told and not speak their minds were infecting the social media hashtag with a variety of racist and otherwise ill-considered arguments about why “millionaire players” shouldn’t have or express political views. (Also, it’s all about the flag and misguided pro-war patriotism, aka freedom.)
Here are ten tweets chosen not at random to help refute at least a little bit of the circulating hatefulness and wrongheadedness:
(1) Right-wing backlash against #TakeTheKnee very much about setting limits in US for how our rights "should" be exercised, and by whom.
— ChristianChristensen (@ChrChristensen) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
I've got 4 combat tours, which is 4 more than you do.
They can take a knee if they want, which was the whole fucking point of those 4 tours. https://t.co/7GK3dBEIQq— Soonergrunt🇺🇸 (@soonergrunt) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Kaep kneeled to call attention to the systemic racism in our criminal justice system, Trump wants to silence protest to racism! #TakeAKnee https://t.co/biZh4mCIl0
— ColorOfChange.org (@ColorOfChange) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
NFL players aren't protesting the anthem, they're protesting police brutality. That's like saying hunger strikes are against food #TakeAKnee
— Orli Matlow (@HireMeImFunny) September 23, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Statement from Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin. Maybe my favorite response thus far. pic.twitter.com/MpH2Y1dC44
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) September 23, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
NFL players who #TakeAKnee are sons of Justice, taking their place in the river of resistance that has brought us thus far on our way. pic.twitter.com/Qr82XmBdpA
— Rev. Dr. Barber (@RevDrBarber) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Don't confuse #TakeAKnee for disrespect. Respect and love for America doesn't require blindness to its failures. https://t.co/UMAYWNgzsC
— ACLU (@ACLU) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Even if #TakeAKnee is disrespectful (it isn't), who cares? There's no such thing as a protest everyone approves of. That's kinda the point.
— John Graziano (@jvgraz) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Pretty interesting how in commentary about NFL protests "our troops" are presumed to be white and have no personal stake in racial equality.
— Adam Serwer 🍝 (@AdamSerwer) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Funny how "making millions of dollars" excludes you from commenting on US when you're black, but enables you when you're white. #TakeTheKnee https://t.co/9YCvYe7tqO
— ChristianChristensen (@ChrChristensen) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
**TWEETS BELOW WERE ADDED BY EDITOR**
Photos of NFL players protesting on Sunday:
Nearly 20 Cleveland Browns took a knee, arm in arm. This might be the biggest anthem protest we've seen yet. #TakeAKnee pic.twitter.com/G43wpgl7XL
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
#Colts players #TakeAKnee, join arms during national anthem in response to President Trump's comments https://t.co/4Q0XTB85C2
— FOX59 News (@FOX59) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Dolphins vs Jets #TakeAKnee ✊🏻✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/zsoMUe4o9F
— James (@ScriptsByJames) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Buccaneers players kneel during national anthem https://t.co/U8pJzpaIeU
— Tampa Bay Times (@TB_Times) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Vikings, Bucs players link arms in solidarity in response to Donald Trump's controversial comments https://t.co/PNcnQqtrTd pic.twitter.com/ANOH0wsmGo
— Star Tribune Sports (@StribSports) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
A group of Saints players remains seated during the national anthem. pic.twitter.com/3NsTiiBWBK
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The national anthem in Detroit ended on one knee pic.twitter.com/7Fi3wSjHSb
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Members of the Philadelphia Eagles did not #TakeAKnee but instead raised their fists. New York Giants players locked arms together. pic.twitter.com/eJS1bRZxtA
— Jessie 🇰🇪 (@JMKTV) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Just these 4 Giants – versus #Eagles – #TakeAKnee today that I could see. pic.twitter.com/LDY7gSizNp
— Philly Talk (@PhillyTalk) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
These @Patriots honor anthem, flag & Constitution w/ their peaceful protest.#Patriots #PatriotsNation #TakeTheKnee #TakeAKnee #TakeAKneeNFL pic.twitter.com/3Y7fAwlakN
— (((Mathew Helman))) (@MatHelman) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The scene in Foxboro.
Texans & Patriots #TakeTheKnee #TakeAKnee #HOUvsNE #NationalAnthem #GoPats #Texans #TomBrady #JJWatt #ranNFL pic.twitter.com/rfp3acTiVx— 🌈 Rainbowcave ⛺️ (@RNBWCV) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Several Buffalo Bills players #TakeAKnee during the anthem before the game against the Broncos. pic.twitter.com/5G2gfhtgei
— Derek Gee (@DerekGeePhoto) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Both the Bills and Broncos kneel. pic.twitter.com/T55ikYQgFe
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Steelers will not participate in national anthem today, will stay in locker room, per @JamieErdahl pic.twitter.com/5uMakQderM
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reveals to @JamieErdahl that the team will not be participating in today's national anthem. pic.twitter.com/5zihPWQsMv
— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
27 players and staff took a knee this morning from the Jaguars and Ravens.
Most ever in one game. pic.twitter.com/Fv4rra9QJb
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
A multitude of #Ravens and #Jaguars players kneeling during the National Anthem this morning, the rest of the team locking arms in unison pic.twitter.com/c97tPS9PxC
— Ashlyn Sullivan (@ashlynrsullivan) September 24, 2017
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
By Common Dreams staff / Creative Commons / Common Dreams / Report a typo
This article was chosen for republication based on the interest of our readers. Anti-Media republishes stories from a number of other independent news sources. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect Anti-Media editorial policy.