2016 U.S. national anthem protests

Colin Kaepernick in 2013

During 2016, several professional athletes protested during the United States (U.S.) national anthem. The protests began in the National Football League (NFL) after San Francisco 49ers quarterback (QB) Colin Kaepernick sat during the anthem, as opposed to the tradition of standing, before his team's third preseason game of 2016. Kaepernick also sat during the first two preseason games, but he went unnoticed.^[1]

The protests have generated mixed reactions and have since spread to other U.S. sports leagues. Some have speculated that the recent slump in NFL viewership, down 11 percent for the first six weeks of the season compared to last year’s numbers, might be because patriotic fans feel turned off by the protests.

NFL season

Kaepernick begins protests

During a post-game interview he explained his position stating, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. 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", adding that he would continue to protest during the anthem until he feels like "[the American flag] represents what it’s supposed to represent”.^[2][3][4]

Preseason

In the 49ers' final 2016 preseason game on September 1, 2016, Kaepernick opted to kneel during the U.S. national anthem rather than sit as he did in their previous games. He explained his decision to switch was an attempt to show more respect to former and current U.S. military members while still protesting during the anthem after having a conversation with former NFL player and U.S. military veteran Nate Boyer.^[5] Fellow 49ers player Eric Reid joined Kaepernick in kneeling during the national anthem during the final preseason game.^[6] Seattle Seahawks player Jeremy Lane also did not stand for the anthem during his final preseason game the same day, stating "It's something I plan to keep on doing until justice is being served."^[7]

Kaepernick pledged to donate the first $1 million of his $11.9 million salary from the 2016–2017 season to different organizations that help communities in need.^[8] He intends to donate $100,000 per month for 10 months to various organizations.^[9] Days later, the San Francisco 49ers matched Kaepernick by pledging $1 million to two organizations focused on dealing with racial and social inequality.^[10]

Regular season

In Week 1, eleven NFL players joined Kapernick's protests.^[11] Denver Broncos player Brandon Marshall took a knee during the national anthem prior to the start of the Kickoff game, which was broadcast on NBC.^[12] Kaepernick and Marshall were teammates at the University of Nevada.^[12] On September 11, Kansas City Chiefs player Marcus Peters raised his fist while the rest of the team interlocked their arms showing solidarity.^[13] Two members of the New England Patriots, Devin McCourty and Martellus Bennett, raised their fists on Sunday Night Football. The entire Seattle Seahawks team stood and interlocked arms.^[14] At the same time, a group of Jacksonville Jaguars players, led by cornerback Prince Amukamara, initially planned to join the protest but chose not to do so after photographs of Kaepernick wearing socks with a crude anti-police message during training camp were made public.^[15]

Since then other NFL players have also protested during the anthem in various ways.

Other athletes join

Professional soccer

Seattle Reign FC and U.S. women's national soccer team player Megan Rapinoe knelt during the national anthem in a game on September 5, explaining that her decision was a "nod to Kaepernick and everything that he's standing for right now".^[16] In a subsequent match at the Washington Spirit, Spirit owner Bill Lynch — anticipating Rapinoe's protest — moved the national anthem's performance without warning or notice to occur before the players' appearances on the pitch. Jeff Plush, the league's commissioner, was present at the game and told reporters that he was unaware of Lynch's plans and disagreed with the act of moving the anthem's performance.^[17] The Spirit's players issued a joint statement also disagreeing with Lynch's decision to move the anthem without first consulting the team's players or coaches.^[18]

As a member of the U.S. women's national soccer team, Rapinoe also knelt before an international friendly match against Thailand on September 16, despite public statements of disagreement with her protest methods issued before the match by the U.S. Soccer Federation and her coach Jill Ellis.^[19]

College

On September 7, three volleyball players from West Virginia Tech took a knee during the national anthem.^[20][21] On October 1, 2016, at East Carolina University, about 19 members of the band kneeled, while about another two held the American flag during the national anthem at the beginning of the football game against the University of Central Florida.^[22]

High school

On September 2, a football player at Brunswick High School in Ohio took a knee during the national anthem after he heard his teammates using the n-word.^[21] Since his protest, the player has received racial threats.^[23] On September 9, high school players across the country took a knee during the national anthem. On September 23, four players from Withrow High School in Cincinnati knelt during the national anthem before their football game.^[21]

National Football League (NFL)

On November 13, 2016, following the election of Donald Trump as the President-elect, Mike Evans wide-receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to sit during the national anthem. According to Sports Illustrated, Evans said, "If this happens, then America’s not right right now. I said this a long time ago. When he ran, I thought it was a joke, and the joke continues. I’m not a political person that much, but I got common sense. And I know when something’s not right." He especially disagreed with Trump on attitudes towards minorities, women, and the LBGT community.^[24] However, his protest began the day following Veterans Day, so he received criticism. He quickly changed his method of protesting and joined his teammates during the following game against the Kansas City Chiefs. He apologized to veterans and other members of the military for his actions - citing that the timing of his protest was poor. "On the field, I'm going to continue to do what I do -- play hard. I'm playing hard because I've got this right -- freedom, because of the vets. I'm going to reach out to organizations, organizations that I feel are doing the best job to help the minority ... women, LGBT, African Americans, Latinos, people that are in fear of Donald Trump and his presidency."^[25]

Reaction

Politicians

United States President Barack Obama stated that Kaepernick was "exercising his constitutional right" to protest.^[26] He went on: "But I don't doubt his sincerity. I think he cares about some real, legitimate issues that have to be talked about. If nothing else, he's generated more conversation about issues that have to be talked about."^[26]

Corporations

After Brandon Marshall elected to take a knee during the national anthem, Century Link and Air Academy Federal Credit Union dropped him as a paid sponsor.^[27] Radio station WFAY dropped a broadcast of an East Carolina University football game on the station after the marching band took part in the protest, calling it an insult to the U.S. Armed Forces.^[28]

Criticism

Kaepernick also received public backlash for his protest. A few NFL fans posted videos of them burning Kaepernick jerseys. Former NFL MVP Boomer Esiason called Kaepernick's actions "an embarrassment" while an anonymous NFL executive called Kaepernick "a traitor".^[29] He also claims to have received death threats.^[30]

Trent Dilfer criticized Kaepernick. "The big thing that hit me through all this was this is a backup quarterback whose job is to be quiet, and sit in the shadows and get the starter ready to play Week 1," Dilfer said on Sunday NFL Countdown. "Yet he chose a time where all of a sudden he became the center of attention. And it has disrupted that organization. It has caused friction. And it's torn at the fabric of the team."^[31]

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg criticized the protest as "dumb and disrespectful," stating that athletes have the right to protest "if they want to be stupid." The U.S. Supreme Court later issued a statement from Ginsburg stating that her comments were "inappropriately dismissive and harsh. I should have declined to respond."^[32]

The September 2016 police shootings of Terence Crutcher and Keith Lamont Scott bolstered support for his protest and concurrently silenced some critics.^[33] Kaepernick said of the Terence Crutcher shooting, "this is a perfect example of what this is about."^[30]

Ratings decline

Some have speculated that the recent slump in NFL viewership, down 11 percent for the first six weeks of the season compared to last year’s numbers, might be because patriotic fans feel turned off by the protests.^[34] In a poll of 1,136 people questioned by Yahoo/YouGov, 40 percent of respondents criticized Kaepernick and 17 percent of those surveyed said that was actually the reason they stopped tuning in to NFL games.^[35]

A poll conducted by Seton Hall University's Sharkey Institute found that 56 percent of 841 adult respondents cited national anthem protests as the leading factor why NFL viewership is down.^[36]

A Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that nearly 32 percent of Americans say they are less likely to watch an NFL game because of the growing number of Black Lives Matter protests by players on the field.^[37]

See also

• U.S. national anthem protests

References