Last football season, NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during the national anthem.

He did this to protest the killing of unarmed African Americans by white police officers. His contract expired at the end of the year last year, and he has not played since; however, other players are continuing this protest this year.

These protests received moderate media coverage until the President Donald Trump weighed in on the controversy at a political rally in Alabama in September, and while using profanity suggested that these players should be fired for not standing during the national anthem.

Some people think that what Colin Kaepernick did was bad and unpatriotic; some think it helps show what racial problems we have in this country.
At our school, there is a variety of opinions that support both sides of the debate.

“I think it’s disrespectful. The anthem is not about your rights, it’s for the people who protect them,” said 8th grade student, Nick Augeri.

However, Krishin Wadhawni believes differently. “I think they can do anything they want. I really don’t care. It’s not like I stand up off my couch when it is playing on TV.”
According to a poll conducted by the PBS Newshour, 46 percent of people agree with the president and that they shouldn’t kneel during the anthem. The opposition says that these players are just exercising their First Amendment rights.

Clearly, no matter how you feel about this issue, people seem to have an emotional reaction.
There are a number of factors including how people feel about the flag, the national anthem, the First Amendment, and racial injustice.