Many people assume the national anthem protests are aimed against police or the United States as a whole, but they are not. Instead, these actions are taken to protest social injustice, specifically against minorities.

Police brutality is a real issue facing this country. Rates in recent years have risen, and more attention is being drawn to the issue because people can record incidents on their cell phones and share them on social media. Dozens of graphic viral videos show suspects surrendering and then being shot, often multiple times. The evidence has proven there were no weapons, just assumptions made by officers based on race. No matter how one tries to argue, this is a race issue, and the statistics prove it.The Washington Post reported on July 11, 2016, that U.S. police officers have shot and killed the exact same number of unarmed white people as unarmed black people: 50 in each case. But in the same article, the Post notes that because the white population is approximately five times larger than the black population, the statistic means unarmed black Americans are five times as likely as unarmed white Americans to be shot and killed by a police officer. 

By Master Sgt. Cohen Young [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The even more disturbing revelation is that a small percent of officers responsible for these murders are not prosecuted and are merely given a slap on the wrist. This cycle of a black person being killed and a police officer receiving no punishment is happening over and over again.

This problem goes far beyond football, as Kaepernick noted. It is a matter of life and death. It is murder. The voices of the oppressed have been silenced, and Kaepernick and many others are using their platform on national television to spread awareness. They are using their fame to make a difference. Unfortunately, implicit bias and ignorance muffle their message across America, and these protests are seen as threatening. In fact, they are peaceful, the same way Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. intended protests to be.

A criticism voiced by many is that the actions of these individuals disrespect the military. But many military members have taken to social media to support Kaepernick with the hashtag #veteransforkaepernick. They are fighting for an America in which all people are guaranteed their First Amendment right to demonstrate. That is what the Constitution stipulates, and that is the beauty of America. In the 1960s, Muhammad Ali protested the Vietnam War by refusing to be drafted. Former Attorney General Eric Holder addressed Ali’s action, stating, “His biggest win came not in the ring but in our courts in his fight for his beliefs.”

The US was founded on protests. No one today looks back on 18th century protests and questions why those Americans insisted on that essential right.

Other citizens can support these athletes’ efforts. You can keep the conversation going. Do not let the threats and voices of those ignorant about the true message of these protests influence your opinion. Do not be silent on this issue. Take a step back and realize that many people in this country do not have equal freedoms or protections. That is not the nation our forefathers envisioned. Lastly, do not let the voices of the deceased be silenced. Stand on the right side of history.

How do you feel about professional athletes refusing to stand for the national anthem?

• I believe that they are disrespecting our nation and the military heroes who serve.
• I think that they are making a valid point about police brutality, but not in the right way.
• I think that they are taking a stand for social justice in such a way to actually be heard.

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