By Thomas Cottingham
Features Assignment Editor
As another season of NFL football kicks off, another controversy has risen. Like other professional sport leagues, the NFL has had its fair share of stirring up controversy. In this case, however, it is not the League creating controversy, but individual players.
Namely, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
During the third week of the NFL preseason, Kaepernick refused to stand during the national anthem performance for a game against the Green Bay Packers. He sat on the bench during the anthem. After the game, which the 49ers ended up losing, Kaepernick was questioned about his protest of the flag.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” said Kaepernick.
“To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”
There have been mixed reactions to the protest. Outrage from sport fans and sport pundits for disrespecting the country was almost inevitable, but the support for this protest is enormous. According to Forbes, Colin Kaepernick had the best-selling NFL jersey after the anthem protest. Whether the jerseys are worn to show support, as carried out by rapper J. Cole, or burned in outrage, Kaepernick is donating the jersey sales to communities in need, per ESPN.
Student athletes at SBU have had some reactions to the recent flag protest, too.
Peter Routsis, a member of the men’s soccer team, agreed with Kaepernick’s stance.
“I’m all for it,” said Routsis, a junior journalism and mass communication major. “I think this is a powerful movement.”
Joshua Beshaw, also on the soccer team, claimed that the NFL players are not doing anything wrong.
“[The NFL players] are exercising their right to not stand during the anthem,” said Beshaw, a junior sports studies major. “I do not see a problem with what they are doing. If they want to stand or sit, it is ultimately up to them.”
Players also exercised their protest on games during September 11.
Running back Arian Foster, alongside other Dolphin players, took a knee during the anthem.
Alexander Olday, goaltender, disproved the actions taken by Kaepernick and the NFL.
“It is a disgrace to the USA,” said Olday. “It is also disrespectful to the family of victims. September 11 is not [the NFL players’] day.”
Action has not be taken against Kaepernick and other NFL players for the flag protest.
Bleacher Report claims that the 49ers general manager is having “ongoing conflict within San Fransico” and wants to dump Kaepernick. This may or may not be related to the protest, as Kaepernick has been struggling in his position.
In any way, his protest has started a conversation.
cottintf14@bonaventure.edu
