Page 30 - Oct Nov 2017

Elite Investigative Journal
NFL Players Kneeling During National Anthem: How Colin Kaepernick Started a Movement and Why, pg 30-36
©2014-2017 SYT Global, Inc.
NFL Players Kneeling During P

National Anthem: How Colin

Kaepernick Started a

Movement and Why
O
L
By Lauren Cook
I
C
E

Photo Courtesy of google.com B
The NFL won’t be chang- Goodell told reporters he president called any player R
ing its policy on play- had discussed “the issues who kneeled during the U

ers standing during the that our players have been national anthem a “son T
national anthem, despite trying to bring attention of a b----” and said they A

repeated calls to do so by to. About issues in our should be fired. L
President Donald Trump communities to make our I
over the past few weeks, communities better.” Outraged by the presi- T

Commissioner Roger Trump responded Wednes- dent’s rhetoric, many NFL Y
Goodell said Wednesday. day morning, calling the players took a knee during

Current league policy kneeling protest “disre- the singing of the national
states that players are spectful.” anthem at games the fol-
encouraged to stand dur- lowing Sunday, while oth-

ing the song, but are not “The NFL has decided ers stayed in locker rooms
required to do so. that it will not force play- or linked arms with their

ers to stand for the playing teammates in a show of
The decision came after a of our National Anthem. solidarity.
two-day meeting of team Total disrespect for our

owners and players and great country!” he wrote In the ensuing days,
their union’s leaders in ahead of the official an- Trump defended his ini-

Manhattan, and just hours nouncement by Goodell. tial statement, supported
after Trump angrily tweet- Trump’s feud with the a boycott of the NFL and
ed about the issue. NFL began on Sept. 22 called on the league to

Following the first day during a political rally outright ban kneeling dur-
of meetings on Tuesday, in Alabama, where the ing the national anthem.

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