The NFL has reached a “compromise” on the #TakeAKnee movement, but no one’s happy
For the past two football seasons, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been protesting police violence against black men by kneeling during the national anthem. As a result, Kaepernick and other players who choose to #TakeAKnee have faced condemnation, from many, including President Donald Trump. The controversy surrounding this movement has finally led to the NFL revising its national anthem policy, and although the changes were described as a “compromise,” they leave a lot to be desired.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell revealed the new policy during a meeting in Atlanta today, May 23rd. He stated that athletes and staff “shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem” if they are on the field. In other words, taking a knee will no longer be allowed. If players wish to protest, they will have to remain in their locker rooms or elsewhere off-field.
In a statement about the policy, Goodell said that the protests had “created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic,” but that this wasn’t true.
"We believe today's decision will keep our focus on the game and the extraordinary athletes who play it — and on our fans who enjoy it," he concluded the statement.
Statement from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell pic.twitter.com/1Vn7orTo1R
— NFL (@NFL) May 23, 2018
According to CBS, if the policy is violated, teams will be punished, rather than individual players. George Atallah, the Executive Director of External Affairs for the NFL Players Association, tweeted that representatives for the players themselves had no hand in the “compromise.”
Maybe this new rule proposal that is being voted on is a "compromise" between the NFL office and club CEOs on various sides of the issue, but certainly not with player leadership; we weren't there or part of the discussions.
— George Atallah (@GeorgeAtallah) May 23, 2018
The NFLPA wrote in a statement that it would challenge any inconsistency in the way the policy is implemented.
"The NFL chose to not consult the union in the development of this new policy,'" the NFLPA's statement read. "NFL players have shown their patriotism through their social activism, their community service, in support of our military and law enforcement and yes, through their protests to raise awareness about the issues they care about."
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) May 23, 2018
NFL Network analyst and reporter Steve Wyche tweeted that the 49ers’ owner had abstained from voting on the anthem policy because of the lack of player input. On Wednesday, May 23rd, New York Jets acting owner Christopher Johnson told Newsday that he would personally cover any fines his players receive for taking a knee, and that he supports their right to do so (though he voted in favor of the ruling).
49ers owner Jed York said that he abstained from the NFL owners vote on the new anthem policy, in part, because he wanted to hear more from players. He added that he may halt concession sales at Levi’s Stadium during the playing of the anthem.
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) May 23, 2018
Many Twitter users also condemned the league for its decision.
Telling peaceful protesters to leave and do it behind closed doors is dangerous and un-American. #TakeAKnee https://t.co/CkKkxVE7dH
— ACLU (@ACLU) May 23, 2018
The new NFL policy is not a compromise. The players wanted to assert their right to peaceful protest. The league didn’t. The league has made it against the rules to do so. And no, staying in the locker room isn’t the same thing.
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) May 23, 2018
While new NFL anthem policy makes sense from business & Trump PR perspective and is certainly within league’s rights, there’s just something that feels unAmerican about forcing folks to abide what is, well, the league’s own politics. Feels like a band aid that won’t stick.
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) May 23, 2018
The NFL is Top 10 at making an issue 100 times worse than it would be if they just left it alone
— lindsey ok (@lindseyyok) May 23, 2018
The NFL banning its players from kneeling is a chilling attack against the First Amendment and a racist policy against the majority African-American players who want to peacefully protest the injustice they face in their daily lives.
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) May 23, 2018
By forcing players to take their protests to the locker rooms, the NFL has shown clear disdain for free speech. We will always stand by those who wish to protest peacefully — both on and off the field.
