President Donald Trump is putting pro football players on notice for Week 4 of the NFL season: He won香蕉视频直播檛 stand for it if they kneel in protest during the national anthem.
At Sunday香蕉视频直播檚 first game, in London, New Orleans Saints players, coaches and staff knelt before the start of the anthem but stood in unison once it began. On the Miami Dolphins香蕉视频直播� sideline, three players were on one knee during the singing of 香蕉视频直播淭he Star-Spangled Banner.香蕉视频直播�
Amid a series of tweets Saturday against criticism of the federal response to hurricane damage in Puerto Rico, the president returned to the world of sports and society: 香蕉视频直播淰ery important that NFL players STAND tomorrow, and always, for the playing of our National Anthem. Respect our Flag and our Country!香蕉视频直播�
Protesting during the playing of 香蕉视频直播淭he Star-Spangled Banner香蕉视频直播� drew national attention last season when Colin Kaepernick, then a quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers, declined to stand as a way to bring attention to police treatment of blacks and to social injustice.
During a speech at a political rally in Alabama on Sept. 22, Trump called for NFL owners to fire players who engaged in such a protest. In the days that followed the president issued a series of tweets reiterating his views and calling for a fan boycott of games.
Criticism from players, owners and fans 香蕉视频直播� and some praise 香蕉视频直播� greeted Trump香蕉视频直播檚 remarks.
The controversy boiled for days and seemed to overshadow other issues facing the Trump presidency, including the failure of Republicans to repeal and replace the nation香蕉视频直播檚 health care law; the Senate primary loss in Alabama of Trump香蕉视频直播檚 favoured candidate; a turbulent hurricane season; and tensions over North Korea香蕉视频直播檚 missiles and nuclear weapons.
香蕉视频直播淚 do really believe his heart香蕉视频直播檚 in the right place,香蕉视频直播� House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said on CBS香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播淔ace the Nation.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚 think what matters is that we have to show people that we are an inclusive society, that we want everyone to succeed,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Ryan also acknowledged that the original point of the player demonstration 香蕉视频直播� racial injustice and police mistreatment of African-Americans 香蕉视频直播� has become obscured by the narrower issue of how to act during the anthem.
香蕉视频直播淚 think we should just have separate and distinct conversations. Because when you merge it into the flag and the anthem, it香蕉视频直播檚 lost,香蕉视频直播� Ryan said.
Relatively few players had demonstrated before Trump香蕉视频直播檚 remarks. Last Sunday, more than 100 NFL players sat, knelt or raised their fists in defiance during the national anthem.
The Associated Press
