#kneeling protest

[nowthisnews]

Retired NBA player Stephen Jackson, a childhood friend of George Floyd, ripped Drew Brees for his 'naive' remarks on NFL kneeling protests

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[xxbvbgirlxx]

"I don't watch football anymore because those football players just HAD to bring politics in." sounds just about as stupid as "I don't like to go to the diner anymore because those negros just HAD to bring politics in."

[awakenchanceentertainment]

The truth about Colon’s Kaepernicks protest that the NFL doesn’t want you to hear!

[moishgil]

BRAVO NIKE! New Colin Kaepernick commercial explains greatness (VIDEO) Thank you Nike for doubling down and reaffirming that we are all a lot more than just an athlete, a kid, a jock, a dreamer, an obedient 2nd class citizen doing whatever THE MAN says we must.

[sighinastorm]

I’ve always supported Kaepernick et al on the grounds of supporting freedom of expression.  When I reblogged that post on flag code, it wasn’t because I earnestly give a shit about the flag, or even because I give a shit about the material of their protest.  And I certainly don’t care about the sanctity of feetball.  This may as well be an extension of arguing about endzone celebrations.

[steveash]

NFL players standing up for human rights against the wrath of Trump tweets.

[kingintellectual]

Sportscaster Dave Hansen speaks out in support of NFL players protesting against institutional racism and police brutality.

[psychosynchrony]

This is gonna be unpopular.

OK. So my uncle is part of his local VFW. They’ve got a lot of vets there, and they come out and do flag/color guard for the high school football games.

Couple weeks ago, they went out to do their thing, and the entire squad of cheerleaders chose to kneel.

One of the older vets (the guy’s in his late 80s) kept it together until they got off the field, then broke down in tears. “We fought,” he said, “so they had the right to do that.”

My uncle’s opinion was even blunter. “They don’t actually understand what they’re protesting.”

My uncle and the other guys at the VFW, they all agree that the police brutality needs to stop. They understand that the youth are upset. But every one I’ve heard from echoes that sentiment. “You don’t actually understand what you’re saying.”

The flag is a convenient point of protest, but it’s also a loaded symbol. It means more than you think it does. What you’re saying goes beyond, ‘we want change’.

And besides, I think we can come up with a better way to argue.

Protest for the sake of protest won’t bring change. Protest at the expense of communication only makes things worse.

You want change? Show up at your town hall meetings. Talk to your local PD. Interact with the other members of your community. Find out where the greatest shortfalls are. Come up with action plans.

Kneeling in the presence of the flag gets attention, but that’s it.

We can do better.