The right to peaceful protests

The Right to Peaceful Protest

The US Constitution specifically the First Amendment guarantees the right to peaceful demonstration. Actually, the goal of nonviolent demonstrations is to give the public a chance to voice their opinions or dissatisfaction. There is a need to show unfair and unjust treatment because the government frequently commits serious atrocities against its citizens. (Fleming and Childs 10). More significantly, nonviolent demonstrations give the general public a platform to voice their opinions. NFL players have recently sat or kneeled during “The Star-Spangled Banner” as a form of nonviolent protest. (Reid 1). The main goal of this form of protest is to complain about minority discrimination in the country such as police brutality and racial injustices (Wohl, King and Taylor 114). Peace protests during the national anthem are essential because they help to build attention to crucial issues.

Justification for NFL Player Protests

NFL players are justified and appropriate in their protests by kneeling during the national anthem. According to the tenets of democracy, when one think that his/her own nations is failing to meet its principles of justice, liberty, and freedom for all, peaceful protests are reasonable (Wohl, King and Taylor 115). The players have stated that they are against the nation that subjugates the rights of people of color and black persons. They oppose the rising cases of murder targeting members of the minority groups. Similarly, these communities have suffered from retrenchments based on their ethnicities. Colin Kaepernick was the first NFL player to refuse to stand during the national anthem (Reid 1). The protests have become widespread as others players refuse to stand for similar grounds. Most of them have noted that their actions have been fuelled by social injustice witnessed in the country in the existing times (Fleming and Childs 10).

The Importance of Celebrity Protests

The act of protest among celebrities to refuse to kneel during the national anthem is important because it create awareness among the people into paying close attention to the injustices in the society. Moreover, it assists in facilitating conversation in the public sphere, which forces the government to do what is right (Fleming and Childs 10). For instance, since Colin’s action, most Americans were offended and shocked which generated into a national debate when more players supported the protest (Reid 1). Such peaceful actions enable the country to identify the need for changing their communities. Speaking out against social vices helps plays a major part in transformation of the society. More importantly social media has provided an opportunity to voice their views on the matter. In addition, it helps to connect people who hold similar opinions about the issue at hand (Wohl, King and Taylor, 114). For instances, Kaepernick’s actions have received support from former members of the US armed forces who are connected via the social media.

The Constitutional Right to Peaceful Protest

Kneeling during the national anthem is an appropriate form of a peaceful protest, which is guaranteed under the First Amendment. Therefore, sports personalities who are engaging in those protests are enjoying their constitutional right to deliver a statement. Furthermore, Americans have a right to either participate or withdraw from national anthem celebrations (Solt 1317). Similarly, these forms of protest actively help individuals to utilize their freedom of speech. In addition, peaceful protests are a symbol of US democracy. The citizens do not have to agree with the protestors but they must appreciate the freedom to express their opinions. The success of human rights groups in the fight against racial equality in the US was realized through the strategy of peaceful protests demanding equal opportunities and rights (Fleming and Childs 12). In the 1960s, leaders such as Martin Luther king advocated for peaceful protests as opposed to armed uprising. Consequently, they utilized various methods such as economic boycotts and civil disobedience as well as other non-violent strategies. The actions produced positive fruits because it helped to reduce racial discrimination. Additionally, campaigns through non-violence means won American minds and hearts (Wohl, King and Taylor 117). In 1965, a momentous legislation on the civil right was enacted. For this reason, peaceful protests during national anthem should be allowed because they do not contravene the constitutional provisions.

Challenges to NFL Player Protests

Kneeling during the national anthem is a creative way to express dissatisfaction with social injustices against the people of color. In addition, it assists in challenging the status quo and other retrogressive actions coordinated atrocities (Edwards 333). The US constitution preserves the players’ capacity to join others and communicate their views in a collective manner (Solt 1315). Through such actions, it can contribute in changing the policy of the government.

Opposition to Protests During the National Anthem

On the other hand, some are against the action of sitting or kneeling during the national anthem arguing that it is counterproductive and ineffective way to enhance a cause. For instance, it may be a source of distraction in the national team activities and the teamwork spirit (Fleming and Childs 13). Moreover, others argue that the action may be a symbol of disrespect among persons who fought for the independence of the nation. For instance, it may illustrate disrepute for the national flag and US defence forces. (Edwards 333) They argue that the national anthem is used to pay tribute to persons who have died, being injured and risked lives protecting the interests of the country.

Conclusion

Therefore, it is not appropriate for the players to engage in activities that dishonour the national flag and national anthem when the US soldiers are in overseas nations fighting for their country. Most persons have lost their lives for the nation (Wohl, King and Taylor 119). Therefore, they suggest that although peaceful protests should be protected, the protestors must do so without disrespecting the national anthem or flag. Some have pointed out that, they support peaceful protest although they opposed the delivery strategy (Solt 1315). Finally, these forms of protests propagate division in the country especially among the fans and teams.

In conclusion, peaceful protests during the national anthem are important because they facilitate national debate about social injustices, which has been directed towards members of minority groups. Furthermore, such forms of protest are safeguarded in the First Amendment in the US constitution (Edwards 333). It also enables the people to live under the ideals of democracy, which guarantee freedom of assembly, right to speech, and peaceful protests. However, some argues that such protests should not be tolerated because they devalue the national anthem and flag (Fleming and Childs 13). In addition, kneeling during the national anthem disrespects the sacrifices of the country’s heroes.

Work cited

Edwards, Susan. “Raising Freedom’s Banner-How Peaceful Demonstrations Have Changed the World.” (2015): 333.

Fleming, Randolph J., and Geoffrey D. Childs. Peaceful protest, political regimes, and the social media challenge. Diss. Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School, 2016.

Reid, Eric. “Opinion | Eric Reid: Why Colin Kaepernick And I Decided To Take A Knee.” Nytimes.Com, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/25/opinion/colin-kaepernick-football-protests.html.

Solt, Frederick. “Economic inequality and nonviolent protest.” Social Science Quarterly 96.5 (2015): 1314-1327.

Wohl, Michael JA, Michael King, and Donald M. Taylor. “Expressions of political practice: Collective angst moderates politicized collective identity to predict support for political protest (peaceful or violent) among diaspora group members.” International Journal of Intercultural Relations 43 (2014): 114-125.