The NFL owners passed a new national anthem policy on Wednesday that used to require players and team officials to stand and show respect on the sidelines during the national anthem, according to USA Today.
In a statement issued by Commissioner Roger Goodell, all players will no longer be required to be present on the field during the anthem. Instead, the policy allows players who do not wish to stand to remain in the locker rooms.
There’s a catch though. The new policy appears to have a penalty for players who choose to protest the national anthem. Each franchise will have the power to create their own policies, which includes fines for personnel on the field who “do not stand and show respect for the flag or the Anthem.” The NFL can also fine personnel within the franchise for not standing and showing respect during the anthem.
Statement from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pic.twitter.com/1Vn7orTo1R
— NFL (@NFL) May 23, 2018
As reported by USA Today, in a news conference Goodell said, “We want people to stand. That’s all personnel, and make sure they treat this moment in a respectful fashion. That’s something we think we owe. We have been very sensitive in making sure we give players choices, but we do believe that that moment is important and one we are going to focus on.”
The NFL’s new policy comes after two seasons of protests by former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid, and many other players in the league during the national anthem. Back in 2016, Kaepernick began kneeling or sitting during the anthem as a form of silent protest against racial injustice and police brutality. According to Bustle, he refused to continue standing for the anthem because he didn’t want to “show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.”
Despite Kaepernick and Reid both being free agents now, many other league members have continued protesting, which prompted the new policy.
The leagues obvious penalty has garnered a significant amount of controversy. The NFL Players Association released a statement, denouncing the league owners for not consulting with the union before creating and releasing the new policy. After Vice President Mike Pence walked out of a game last fall, the NFLPA encouraged players rights to “peacefully raise awareness” on the field.
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) May 23, 2018
Though some critics of the anthem protests are applauding the NFL’s new policy, many on social media are criticizing how the NFL simultaneously profits off their black athletes and penalize them for their social activism:
Many feel that the NFL are missing the protests point.
Is it just me who thinks the NFL are completely misinterpreting the point of these protests? The point isn’t these players don’t wanna respect the anthem, it’s that they want to raise awareness for a massive issue. Can’t do that by not being present!
— ”it was agony towards the end” (@dvtavfc) May 23, 2018
Others are pointing out the numerous flaws within the league.
The NFL has long been a cesspool of monetized traumatic brain injuries, sexism, domestic violence and white supremacist racism. The fact that it is all of these things AND intensely profitable says quite a lot about this country.
— Crystal Fleming (@alwaystheself) May 23, 2018
Some are wondering where the hell did freedom of speech go.
So The NFL just approved new penalties for players who don’t stand for the National Anthem. So what happened to freedom of speech and expression? Or does freedom of speech only apply to white people?
— Tariq Nasheed (@tariqnasheed) May 23, 2018
And so many on social media refuse to stop taking a knee.
The new policy by the @NFL is shameful. I will continue to boycott as long as they conflate peaceful protesting against police brutality of POC with “respecting the flag”. I hope all players stay inside the locker room. Owners are nothing without you. #TakeAKnee
— Jeanette S (@Jnetty1908) May 23, 2018
Too True!
It’s interesting the NFL was a lot quicker to change the rules to prevent players from kneeling than they were to protect them from CTE.
— Denizcan James (@MrFilmkritik) May 23, 2018
Tbh, they really don’t understand.
This new policy just shows how much the NFL doesn’t get it. It was never about our flag, military, or anthem. ??♂️
— Abdoulie Njai (@Doulienjai) May 23, 2018
Many are pointing out how black athletes are the majority in the NFL but still are being subjected to racist policies.
This is codifying racism into the game of American football to suppress free speech. The NFL–which receives $ to promote the military– is creating a game rule that specifically penalizes Black athletes’ protest of racism & police violence. NFL athletes are majority Black. https://t.co/zeN0iVbszc
— Bree Newsome (@BreeNewsome) May 23, 2018
Even former NFL quarterback Sage Rosenfels mocked the leagues decision.
I hope the NFL decides to completely stop all concession stand sales during the anthem as well. We wouldn’t want people buying a $10 beer and an $8 hot dog during our sacred anthem.
All TV camera crews must stop filming and direct attention at the flag too.
Just seems fair.— Sage Rosenfels (@SageRosenfels18) May 23, 2018
The NFL National Anthem policy is an obvious sign that the NFL doesn’t understand that the protests weren’t about disrespecting the anthem, but instead about drawing attention to the injustices many black and people of color face in our country today.