Trump’s Harsh Comments About NFL Players Kneeling During National Anthem

Story by Nataleigh Jackson. Photo from New York Times.

DEC. 11, 2017: Starting around August 2017, people throughout the United States were shocked and disgusted by the statements that Trump has been making on Twitter and during speeches about NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick who is an unsigned free agent took a knee during the national anthem at one of the preseason games this year. He did this because he believes that he shouldn’t stand up to show pride in a flag and a country where African Americans aren’t treated equally. Ever since then, NFL teams all over the USA have been linking arms or kneeling.

If you know our president, you know he doesn’t hold his tongue. He wants NFL coaches and owners to fire players for taking a knee. At a rally in Alabama, Trump said “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, “Get that son of a ***** off the field right now. Out. He's fired!”.

This is no way for our president to speak. We have rights. We are guaranteed freedom of speech and we should be able to protest.  We shouldn’t have to stand for the National Anthem if it is not about justice and equality in the United States of America.

Nataleigh Jackson is a 9th grade scholar at Friendship Tech Prep Academy.