national anthem protests
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The NFL Will Fine Players Who Protest During Anthem, Proving White Tears Matter More Than Black Lives
Welp, it’s official, and if you didn’t see this coming, you haven’t been watching. Surprising only those who still believe in fairy tales like Bigfoot, reverse racism and R. Kelly’s innocence, NFL team owners voted Wednesday to approve a policy that requires all players on the field to stand during the national anthem performance, proving…
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I Took a Knee for the Anthem Before an Alumni Basketball Game … but I Just Felt Silly
I am currently still recovering from the alumni basketball game I played in last weekend, a process that, considering how my back and knee(s) and throat and chest and spleen feel right now, will likely last until June (of 2019). I am hydrating frequently; I am taking longer-than-usual showers; I’ve developed an intimate relationship with…
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Seattle Seahawks Postpone Colin Kaepernick Workout Over the Former Quarterback’s Protest Stance: Report
Colin Kaepernick was set to work out with the Seattle Seahawks this week, but team officials decided to “postpone” (read: cancel) the trip after Kaepernick would not commit to stopping his protest during the national anthem against the killings of unarmed black men, women and children by police. According to ESPN, the Seahawks claim that…
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The NFL Wants Black Bodies … Not Black People
The National Football League’s annual trade carousel has officially reached top speed, and with it, the owners and general managers of America’s most watched sporting league are quietly instituting a new directive to its black players: “Shut the fuck up.” Across the NFL, teams are purging from their rosters black players considered to be extremely…
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Proposed Law Would Force Indianapolis Colts to Refund Fans if Players Kneel During Anthem
A Republican lawmaker in the Indiana House of Representatives is proposing legislation that would require the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts to refund ticket prices to their fans if any players on the team kneel during the national anthem at home games. State Rep. Milo Smith told the Indy Star that his bill would allow fans who…
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Colin Kaepernick Is GQ’s Citizen of the Year Without Having to Say a Damn Thing
It’s long been clear that Colin Kaepernick has become a bigger hero off the football field than he ever was on it. In a year that has seen the ripple effects of the quarterback’s 2016 national anthem protests against racial injustice (protests that effectively barred him from playing the sport again but that have become…
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Iowa Cheerleader Quits Team After School Says Students Cannot Kneel During Anthem
A Buena Vista University cheerleader resigned from her squad last week after the school instituted a policy mandating that players and cheerleaders stand during the national anthem. Sophomore Alyssa Parker, who had been on both the football and basketball cheer teams since her freshman year, was one of nine cheerleaders who knelt during the national…
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Contrary to Previous Reports, Colin Kaepernick Was Not Invited to Past or Future Meetings Between NFL Team Owners and Players
Last week, NFL Executive Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs Joe Lockhart told reporters that he fully expected Colin Kaepernick to be invited to attend the next meeting between NFL players, their representatives and the league to discuss how the NFL could better support players in their activism efforts. Those comments were echoed by…
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Houston Texans Owner Bob McNair Said What He Said, and He Meant It
Houston Texans owner Bob McNair was “apologetic” Friday for comments he made last week referring to NFL players as “inmates” who couldn’t be allowed “to run the prison.” In the wake of his “apology,” players on his team, others around the league and even some NBA players had plenty to say about his comments, as…
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Colin Kaepernick Will Finally Get His Seat at the Table When the NFL Meets Players Next Week—but Will He Take It?
When the NFL meets with players and their representatives next week to discuss how the league can better support activism efforts by players, it is expected that Colin Kaepernick will be invited to participate in that discussion. In a conference call with reporters Wednesday, NFL Executive Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs Joe Lockhart…