The First Amendment gives Americans the right to peacefully protest. Today, many professional and amateur athletes exercise that right by kneeling during the National Anthem to protest infringements on civil rights. These protests started last year when the San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the National Anthem. Since then the protests have received increasingly more media coverage than before as President Trump has Tweeted his opinion regarding the subject “If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL, or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU’RE FIRED…”

Coronado’s economics teacher Mr. Taylor and biology teacher Mr. Muth, both U.S. Army veterans, gave their opinions regarding the situation.

One reason why some people are against the kneeling is because the anthem is seen as something that “[shows] respect for the individuals who have served in the armed forces” said Mr. Muth, who was “in the military directly out of high school… from 1991-1997”, Mr. Muth believes that “every American has the right to peaceful protest. No matter what form that takes.” In his eyes, if athletes are standing (or kneeling) for what you believe and not hurting anyone by doing so, what is the problem?

Mr. Taylor’s opinion is similar, and he also served our country “from 1980 to 1982…in the US Army”. Mr. Taylor stated that “I certainly do not have an objection to their right to protest.” More personally he told how the “National Anthem… represents a lot of the freedoms and opportunities that I have been given [so] for me personally [the Anthem] means a lot”.

One problem that is coming from the kneeling is the cause of it being misinterpreted, for instance, President Trump Tweeted that “The issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race. It is about respect for our Country, Flag, and National Anthem.” Mr. Taylor’s understanding of the situation is that  “The players were protesting racial equality in civil rights” President Trump then “pivoted it to make it about patriotism and disrespect of the American flag and the military”. Mr. Muth explained that “the outrage that has been shown [towards] these professionals, mostly African American athletes, [equates] to hate and racism. We forget why they are kneeling.”

Regardless of how you feel it is important to have an opinion and stand by it respectfully, our Coronado Veterans seem to believe the players have a right to a peaceful protest, where do you stand, or kneel?