SPORTS TEAMS PROTEST AFTER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S REMARKS

During Week 3 of the 2017 NFL season, many teams took a knee or showed signs of protest.

On Friday, Sept. 22 president Donald Trump held a rally in Alabama. According to BleacherReport.com, "President Donald Trump held a rally Friday night in Alabama ahead of the state's Sept. 26 primary election, and he didn't shy away from commenting on the NFL's television ratings and players who have decided to protest social injustice during the national anthem.

"NFL ratings are down massively," Trump said, according to CNN's Brian Stelter. "Now, the No. 1 reason happens to be that they like watching what's happening...with yours truly."

Speaking of anthem protesters, Trump asserted he would like to see owners take charge and cut those players from their respective teams: "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.'"

With that statement, it started off a firestorm of reactions across the NFL. The prior week, only six players protested the national anthem, according to the Chicago Tribune.

In the NFL owners and management protested alongside their teams. Owners and teams locked arms or took a knee while the National Anthem was played.

Many teams also came out with releases supporting the protests and for standing up for what they believe in and what they think was the right thing to do.

Other sports teams also took notice.

On Saturday, Sept. 23, Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell, took a knee during the national anthem. According to Gabe Lacques, of USA TODAY Sports, Maxwell, who hinted at such an action earlier in the day, knelt during the national anthem before Saturday night's 1-0 win over the Texas Rangers.

Maxwell, a 26-year-old catcher from Alabama, composed several tweets Saturday in the wake of President Trump's comments Friday night to "fire the sons of bitches " in the NFL who kneeled for the anthem. Kaepernick's protest was conceived in the wake of social injustices and the shooting of unarmed African Americans by law enforcement.”

During the WNBA playoffs, on Sunday, Sept, 24 according to the Swish Appeal, “Expressing their solidarity with the nation, the Los Angeles Sparks were not present on the court during the national anthem prior to tip-off of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.

The Minnesota Lynx elected to be on the court and linked arms with one another.”

In my own thoughts, for the leader of our nation to come out and criticize a whole group of sports teams and calling them “Sons of Bitches” isn’t right on any level.

I think that people should be able to protest any injustices that they feel that they should be able to do. I also think when sports teams get involved in the protests it brings it to a whole new level. The reason is because athletes are looked up to as role models and when they band together and make a statement people with listen. How people respond to athletes taking a stand on the national platform will be shown on how they respond to different situations. 

As I have said before when I wrote about this issue last year, “The fight for justice will continue on and off the field/courts around the country.”

I also think what gave this motivation was that here you have the leader of our country coming out and calling a group of people, “Sons Of Bitches” has some really negative effects on the whole country.

Athletes are people also, they have feelings and they are active members of their communities and leaders as well. People look athletes and will continue to do that.

I know that high school teams from not only Minnesota but around the country have also taken notice. High school teams have “Taken a knee” before games across the state. Players and coaches have talked about this topic at length.

It will be interesting in seeing where these protests are headed and what forms and what teams are protesting and for how long now.

Just know I support what these teams are doing. #TAKEAKNEE

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TEAMS JOIN IN PROTESTS

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the National Anthem during the first preseason game during the 2016 season.  

 

Kaepernick explained that the reason that he did that was to protest injustices.

 

In Minnesota during the summer of 2016 there were a few shootings around the area at the hands of the police that touched off a lot of racial tensions across major cities in the metro area.

 

Around the country and around the state of Minnesota sports teams have taken notice. High school teams have also taking part in the protest. During a recent football game at Minneapolis North High School several players took a knee during the national anthem. Also members of the Minneapolis South High School volleyball team took a knee before a game during the national anthem.

 

High school sports teams from across the country have also took a stand by kneeling during the national anthem.

 

There has been a lot of discussions on around the country about race relations not only in the sporting community but in general.

 

The magnitude of different events that have happened at the hands of police that have mobilized different groups of people.

 

Athletes have taken their voices to the field or the court to take a stand on social issues across the country as well. Teams have created hashtags to promote their awareness of social issues.

 

I support what these athletes are doing. I think that it is their thought of a way to stand up in what they believe in socially. They are using their voices in the actions that they are doing. I don’t think that the players are doing anything wrong by kneeling during the anthem. I don’t think that this issue will go away soon. As the sports season changes I think that other sporting events and teams will follow suite.

 

I think that this type of protest has legs to move. The question for me is what can America do to bridge the “gap” and start talking about race relations and sports and all come together. This is another example of a social issue getting steam and picking up in the sporting world. I think that it is a good idea to have a dialog about sports and issues that come up and affect people in every possible situation.

 

For some player’s sports is their outlet. It’s a chance for them to showcase their skills while learning about life lessons. Sports just doesn’t teach you how to pass a ball or hit a ball or a birdy. Sports can also teach you about yourself and your goals in life.

 

Teams can use these protests as a teachable monument. They can share their feelings on what is going on in the world around them without feeling isolated.

 

The fight for justice will continue on and off the field/courts around the country.