This protest started in the 2016 preseason games by the former 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick and give an influence towards four players in the Seattle Seahawks. The main reason for the protest due to the police being brutal towards African Americans. This kneeling protest started to spread into other football teams, which lead a controversy for not showing respect when the national anthem is being played …show more content…
This silent way of protesting was showed in national television and created a topic for the public about the issues that created within American football. Recently, the NFL’s 32 owners announced a new policy to end all protesting within football games and the “objective as a league and to all 32 clubs...we want people to be respectful of the national anthem” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (Maske). The public has different views towards the idea of having a policy for not allowing the protest to happen due to the 1st amendment, protecting the freedom to assemble and petition towards the government. In addition, owners believe that players should have their own values and beliefs respected by “not forcing anybody to stand who doesn’t feel that that’s within the way they feel about particular subjects...I think this policy is meant to come out at a place where we’re respecting everybody’s point of view on this as best we could”(Maske). Since the main topic is based on police actions towards African Americans, people believe it’s their right