Colin Kaepernick refuses “to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people”...

Three Dolphins kneel for anthem in London

LONDON -- Three Miami Dolphins players -- Kenny Stills, Julius Thomas and Michael Thomas -- continued to kneel during the national anthem Sunday before their game against the New Orleans Saints in Wembley Stadium.

The Saints, meanwhile, knelt together as a team before the anthem then stood together during the anthem -- a planned show of unity after 10 players sat on the bench last week for the first time. Many players and coaches had their arms interlocked or their hands on shoulders.

A week ago, demonstrations were organized across the NFL in response to President Donald Trump's criticism of players who kneel during the national anthem.

Drew Brees announced the Saints' plans earlier this week after team leaders got together and decided it would be "a way to show respect to all."

Brees has been steadfast in his belief that players should stand during the national anthem. However, Brees also disagreed with Trump's comments last week and said, "I don't blame the guys for feeling like they needed to do something as a reaction. ... Unfortunately I think he put all athletes, all black athletes, minority athletes, he put 'em in a corner and forced them to take action."

Saints coach Sean Payton said there was no influence from Saints ownership on the players' decision.

Safety Kenny Vaccaro, one of the players who sat last Sunday, said he was good with the plan the team came up with.

"I think it's a good combination of showing unity and also paying tribute to the actual reason why everybody's taking a knee. It has nothing to do with disrespecting the flag, disrespecting the military," Vaccaro said.

Ryan: I Think Trump Is ‘Learning’ When It Comes To Race Issues – Talking Points Memo

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) on Sunday said he thinks President Donald Trump is “learning” when it comes to race issues in the United States.

“I think, like I said before, he’s learning. I know his heart’s in the right place,” Ryan said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

“How do you know that?” John Dickerson asked.

“I’ve had some candid conversations with him about this, especially during that time,” Ryan said, referring to the aftermath of a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that turned violent. “I’ve had some very candid conversations, and so I do really believe his heart’s in the right place.”

Asked about Trump’s ongoing attacks on NFL players and coaches who protest by kneeling during the national anthem, often to call attention to the treatment of minorities in the United States, Ryan said he thinks Trump has “got a point.”

“What I think a lot of people who are protesting on that don’t necessarily see is that other people see it as disrespecting the country, what it stands for, the flag, and the people who died to protect it,” Ryan said.

He said people “clearly” can “express themselves under the First Amendment however they want to.”

“But what so many Americans — I see this at home — see is you’re disrespecting the idea of America, that we want to make this free country a more perfect union,” Ryan said, “and that people have died and fought and survived to protect it, so they don’t see the point that they’re trying to make.”

stringer bell wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81euh9Pd4nI

https://www.mediaite.com/online/nba-commissioner-adam-silver-expects-players-to-stand-for-the-national-anthem/

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Expects Players to Stand for the National Anthem

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has weighed in on the ongoing NFL controversy involving players protesting during the national anthem.

He said that the lack of unity in society today is “disheartening,” but that sports have always been a “unifying force” where sports arenas have been places where “people from all walks of life have come together” for a common experience.

While he hopes that the league and the players can “play a constructive role” in bringing people together when it comes to political disagreements, Silver set a firm line when it comes to his players protesting during the national anthem:

“On the anthem specifically, we have a rule that requires our players to stand for the anthem. It’s been our rule as long as I’ve been involved with the league and my expectation is that our players will continue to stand for the anthem.”

Several NBA players including Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Ben Simmons have spoken out against President Trump after Curry expressed that he didn’t want to visit the White House.