Overall, I support the BLM message, but I'm also in the camp of "Not during the Anthem". I think that by allowing that, you open the door for the next "important movement", and the next, and the next, until the playing of the anthem simply becomes a musical protest moment.
What if the NFL could provide 30 seconds of screen time on the jumbotrons following the anthem for the players to get their message across? To me, that would be far more impactful.
Just think about this for a moment.
Imagine being afraid when you are in your car in a nice neighborhood, because someone reported that you "looked suspicious" or you "matched the description" of a suspectedncriminal. At any time, you could be pulled over for DWB, but not only that, you're at risk of getting arrested, tasered, or even killed.
Imagine that you, or your friends or neighbors, experienced police brutality and nobody did anything about it.m
Imagine being a victim of a crime, calling the police and they don't help.
Imagine having nobody to turn to. No elected officials taking up your cause. Feeling like the president is referring to you as a thug for nothing other than your skin color.
Imagine a football player making a peaceful protest to get attention for your issue, and despite it being controversial, you finally get some attention for this issue.
Imagine that protest starting a movement to stop what you believe to be injustice against you and anyone who looks like you.
Imagine that the largest civil rights movement in history, with all 50 states and 18 plus countries joining in protest.
Imagine that the president who spoke out against the peaceful protest at the anthem, speaks out even louder about these protests and talks about sending in tanks against his own people.
Imagine that many acts of apparent police brutality are filmed during the protests against police brutality.
From that perspective, not only does it seem insane that the guy who led the initial, peaceful protest lost his job and who knows how many millions of dollars for drawing attention to this issue, but it seems like he brought attention to it in the best of ways. Highly visible, and controversial, and bravely suffering the overwhelmingly negative feedback from people who don't want to feel "disrespected".
I can understand why it's important to respect the flag and the national anthem. But I also respect the act that got us to this point.
And it's looking increasingly likely that kids will someday graduate from Colin Kaepernick Memorial High School because of his simple act of civil disobedience.