The NFL Bans Kneeling on Field During The Anthem

In what could be a very controversial move, the National Football League has changed its policy this week and has required that league personnel must stand for the national anthem.

According to the NFL, players must stand and “show respect for the flag” if they are on the field and refusing to stand will get their team fined. They can choose to stay off the field until the song ends. There was no dollar amount specified on how much the fine would be.

The NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, said in a statement that players who refuse to stand for the anthem “may stay in the locker room or in a similar location off the field until after the Anthem has been performed.”

Since 2016 when Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers kneeled during the anthem to show “awareness and action around issues of social justice that must be addressed,” many have been divided on whether or not players should stand if they don’t want to.

Goodell has said, “It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic. This is not and was never the case.”

“The NFL chose to not consult the union in the development of this new ‘policy,'” the union responded. “NFL players have shown their patriotism through their social activism, their community service, in support of our military and law enforcement and yes, through their protests to raise awareness about the issues they care about.”

The American Civil Liberties Union tweeted, “Telling peaceful protesters to leave and do it behind closed doors is dangerous and un-American. #TakeAKnee.”