What started as a small rebuke within the Americal NFL community has swelled to a nationwide protest against President Donald Trump.
If you have missed it, Colin Kaepernick, a free-agent quarterback who formerly played for San Francisco 49ers, sat out the national anthem for months on end in 2016, in protest of police brutality towards African Americans.
“This stand wasn’t for me,’’ Kaepernick said at the time. “This is because I’m seeing things happen to people that don’t have a voice, people that don’t have a platform to talk and have their voices heard, and effect change.’’
While Kaepernick’s career remains in limbo – having not played a match since the conclusion of last year’s football season – on Sunday more than 100 NFL players protested in the 29-year-old’s absence, many wearing or holding T-shirts that read #IMWITHKAP.
What began as one man’s social justice cause has now become a nationwide movement.
Whole teams came to their knees and locked arms as the national anthem played over the weekend. Some, including the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, and Pittsburgh Steelers, didn’t even walk onto the field while the Star-Spangled Banner (the name of the US anthem) played.
Listen: Curious as to what’s going on in the world of Trump? Mia Freedman and Amelia deep-dive, on the latest episode of Tell Me It’s Going To Be OK. Post continues after audio.
Trump has condemned the actions of the players in a series of tweets.
“If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast,” the President said.
“If not, YOU’RE FIRED. Find something else to do!”
He allegedly called the players “sons of bitches” at a rally, last Friday.
While the protest’s premise has divided public opinion in the US, the photos are simply moving.
Take a look through our photo collection of some of the most important shots from #TakeAKneel…
Top Comments
I think this movement is hugely effective. Trump is certainly stirred up by it.
Beautiful images of united people xx
I think the timing is significant. They are on the verge of starting Ww3. The sabre rattling has already begun. This is a distraction.
How about not seeing it as a "distraction" but as a genuine movement which needs recognition and action!
Well obviously I was talking about Trump. The footballers are not starting ww3.
Yes but you are still suggesting the movement is "good as a distraction" whereas I'm saying it needs to be taken seriously!
To draw attention to police violence is a fair cause, but now it’s morphed into a pro or anti Trump thing rather than police violence which should be non partisan, at least one would hope. On that issue, the Ferguson riots were based on a lie, the perp after all was caught robbing a store, beating the cashier and then rushed a cop and tried to pull his gun, as the video shows. I don’t think he got shot for being black exactly. Also, the FBI crime stats show there is no bias based on skin colour with police shootings and if you believe BLM, maybe focus on the 50 black men shot dead in Chicago by other black men every month.