Kneeling during the National Anthem is not a form of disrespect, but rather a simple First Amendment gesture.
Football players now commonly kneel to show that they can no longer stand for the brutalization of racial minorities.
Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeled during the National Anthem in 2016, but this form of protest has more recently received attention.
"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 told NFL Media after a game.
This ignited controversy on what the flag represents.
Some believe the flag represents cherished freedom for which soldiers fight, while others believe the flag represents freedoms that are not.
The flag should represent freedom and equality for all who hope to attain the “American dream,” and the possibility to reach success and prosper through hard work.
But the flag does not and has never symbolized freedom and equality for all.
America is a country that was built on racism, and kneeling during the national anthem is an appropriate way to protest an unequal system.
