John Legend is the latest celebrity to show support for NFL players protesting on Sunday amid harsh criticism from President Trump. The singer penned a detailed essay, published on Slate, explaining his support of the peaceful protests.
"Protest is patriotic. Protest has played a critically important role in elevating the voices of the most vulnerable in our nation. Protest in America has been essential to ending war, to demanding equal rights, to ending unfair practices that keep citizens marginalized. If we quell protest in the name of patriotism, we are not patriots. We are tyrants," he writes.
I wrote about why the NFL players' protests are patriotic. https://t.co/hYEWhfJUvU
— John Legend (@johnlegend) September 24, 2017
Legend goes on to cite some of the most iconic protests in the country's history, including the Birmingham protests in 1963 and the Selma to Montgomery march in 1965.
"These protests woke Americans up from complacency. And combined with other forms of social activism, they helped to show citizens, policymakers, and anyone listening that there could be a better way. That hope was not just an idea—a better future was both necessary and possible," Legend writes.
The current protests involve NFL players choosing to lock arms, instead of taking a knee to show their unity during the pre-game playing of the national anthem. Legend says these actions carry on the history of past protest tradition in our country and ultimately educate the public about current civil rights issues.
"[The protests] are not some arbitrary statement about a flag. They are a demand that we Americans make this country's reality match its proud symbolism."
He goes on to commend the efforts of specific players, including Colin Kaepernick, who initiated the anthem protests in 2016.
"I sing for a living—no one would want me on their NFL team," he concludes. "But if I could, I'd take a knee on Sundays."
If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017
The league-wide protests came after Trump made comments about NFL players during a political rally on Friday night: "Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He's fired. He's fired!'"
Trump stood by his comments, tweeting Sunday evening: "Sports fans should never condone players that do not stand proud for their National Anthem or their Country. NFL should change policy!"
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
