The Consequences of Protesting in Sports
WASHINGTON D.C. - For the past weeks, the media has been putting spotlight on the actions done by NFL athletes. Athletes from many teams have joined the movement to kneel or link arms during a game as a means of protest. The issue has been talked about everywhere as well as in New Mexico. Current players from Santa Fe High expressed their opinions on the event. Just today, five players on the college football team, Lobos, have been spotted kneeling during the anthem.
The first sign of protest in the NFL was seen by Colin Kaepernick, a former player of the 49ers. He kneeled during the national anthem in 2016. He said, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” Today, he is currently a free agent, he had only one more year in his contract. He decided to opt out of it instead, however, he has not been contracted since then. The reason for not being contracted is unknown, but may have to do with his previous protest.
In 2017, with many other athletes protesting, opinions from both sides have been unraveled. Athletes from Dallas-Cowboys, Los Angeles-Chargers, and Oakland- Raiders are just a few examples of teams that have protested. Some see it as an opportunity, to address issues as other see the action as disrespectful and unnecessary. The president Donald Trump has expressed his views on the protests declaring that those sons of b----- [the players] should be kicked off the field as well as saying the coaches are afraid of their players. [ which is why they don't do anything about it] A local athlete from Santa Fe High declared that he would never kneel or sit during the anthem, he would never hesitate to stand. He says, “I’d make them [his teammates] stand up.” While another local player from Santa Fe says, “If you feel you should take the knee, then take the knee. It’s about freedom of speech.”
Another opinion viewed is that the NFL players may not even now what they are protesting. Are they protesting Trump’s latest actions or racial inequality? Is it about free speech and what one can stand for? “Everyone looks up to those NFL guys,” a high school student states. It has been said that the NFL athletes decided to protest because of the inequality that still lies within different races.
We have an other side pressing the idea: that any time is the right time to protest, and if you have the power to tell others, why not use it? While other people argue that football and politics should not be mixed, and that veterans are being dishonored. Terrell Suggs, a player from the Ravens said, “They have the right to protest. We knelt with them today. Non-violent protest is as American as it gets. We knelt with them today and let them know we are a unified front. There is no dividing us. I guess we’re all sons of b------.”
