Americans split over national anthem protesters

ONLINE polls have found that Americans are divided over a national anthem protest by National Football League (NFL) players.

An increasing number of US sportsmen have taken to one knee rather than standing during the playing of the anthem after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started the political protest last August.

He said: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour.”

A survey by the Cato Institute found 61% of Americans opposed US President Donald Trump’s idea of firing NFL players who did not stand.

However, a survey by YouGov showed only 38% of Americans supported the kneeling protest.

A verbal war between Trump and NFL players escalated at the weekend. Trump challenged NFL owners to fire any player who took a knee. Subsequently, more than 200 players kneed, locked arms or remained in the locker room during the anthem.

The opinions in the Cato survey were divided clearly by parties, age and race. People who were older, with less education, and living in smaller towns and rural communities were most likely to support punishing NFL players.

Although majorities across racial groups opposed firing NFL players joining the protest, the support for them was strongest among African Americans (88%) followed by Hispanics (60%) and then whites (55%).

Xinhua