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GEORGETOWN, Ky. – Colin Kaepernick started a movement that drew a lot of praise, but an equal amount of criticism.
For those who have kept up with the NFL, the “Take a Knee” movement began in September 2016 when Colin Kaepernick, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, decided to sit during the national anthem, which eventually led to kneeling, as opposed to the tradition of standing with his hand over his heart.
Kaepernick voiced his reasoning behind this movement citing police brutality towards African Americans and the oppression of people of color in the U.S. as his cause.
Jeremy Lane, Seattle Seahawks cornerback, became the first member of the NFL that was not on Kaepernick’s team to join Kaepernick in his movement to kneel during the national anthem. This led to other teams joining in.
Megan Rapinoe, a professional American soccer player; Brandon Marshall, a Denver Broncos football player; Four Dolphins players, Arian Foster, Michael Thomas, Kenny Stills and Jelani Jenkins; Howard University cheerleaders and many more kneeled just during the month of September in 2016.
Kaepernick blew into the media again, almost a year after his initial kneel, and received plenty of praise and criticism for starting this demonstration.
Singer/songwriter and actor Pharrell Williams kneeled during a charity show in Charlottesville, Virginia because of the violent demonstrations that had taken place there. During the Global Citizen Festival in New York, singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder kneeled on stage while performing.
A 97-year-old WWⅡ veteran, John Middlemas, went viral on social media after his grandson, Brennan Gilmore, posted a photo of him kneeling.
“Those kids have every right to protest,” said Middlemas.
President Donald Trump is vocal in his criticism of Kaepernick and other NFL members who refuse to stand for the national anthem. He used Twitter as his outlet with many tweets comprising his discontent.
“Sports fans should never condone players that do not stand proud for their National Anthem or their Country. NFL should change policy!” said Donald Trump on Twitter on Sept. 24, 2017.
Trump also said the NFL should set policies for mandatory standing for the national anthem in a tweet that said, “The NFL has all sorts of rules and regulations. The only way out for them is to set a rule that you can’t kneel during our National Anthem!” on Sept. 26, 2017.
Steven Seagal, an American actor, producer and musician, aired his opposition to Kaepernick’s demonstration on Good Morning Britain. “I think it’s outrageous, I think it’s a joke, it’s disgusting,” Seagal said.
Paul Ryan, the U.S. House Speaker, joined in on the criticism. “I think it’s misguided to protest the anthem or the flag because people don’t see it as an issue, as some political issue – they see it as protesting against the people who have given their lives for this country and the ideals we all strive for to make a more perfect union,” Ryan said.
The “Take a Knee” movement is certainly something to watch as tensions flare, again.