Because of not appreciating why fellow NFL players like Colin Kaepernick have chosen to kneel during the national anthem, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been criticized by many this week.
Brees said that he felt kneeling was “disrespectful” to the military. However, he later apologized for his “insensitivity” after his Black teammates and other sports figures explained the kneeling was in protest of systemic racism. He said he “will work every day to put myself in those shoes and fight for what is right.”
Kaepernick only started kneeling after conferring with former Green Beret Nate Boyer on the most respectful way to protest.
On the other hand, President Donald Trump said Friday that Brees should not have apologized. Also, he misrepresented and criticized kneeling during the national anthem as a protest of the American flag.
…We should be standing up straight and tall, ideally with a salute, or a hand on heart. There are other things you can protest, but not our Great American Flag – NO KNEELING!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2020
Many Twitter users expectedly had strong opinions about Trump’s comments.
Stuff like this is so unreal. Brees is likely a shitty guy but among the range of shitty people his apology at least seemed like someone who would like to better himself. And then the PRESIDENT comes and criticizes him for his attempt at tolerance https://t.co/lsaU9g5Dht
— Mike McDonald (@MikeMcDonald89) June 5, 2020
*Kaep peacefully protests*: come on, RESPECT THE FLAG! You hate America!
— Secular Talk🎙 (@KyleKulinski) June 5, 2020
*rioting starts*: if only these rioters peacefully protested we'd support them! https://t.co/L5fSIAvHLE
Pick a side, NFL….your players or this dipshit. Please get it right this time. https://t.co/Kz8SAODJjd
— Melissa Jacobs 💙 (@thefootballgirl) June 5, 2020
the racism will continue until morale improves https://t.co/Lls6608PX3
— Mark Gongloff (@markgongloff) June 5, 2020
remember this when the line is that protesters MUST protest peacefully. now it's that they can only protest certain things. https://t.co/MvZvrFUmzq
— Sam Stein (@samstein) June 5, 2020