Takes a hit
Activists slam anthem policy at Midtown HQ
DOZENS OF demonstrators blitzed the NFL’s Manhattan headquarters Friday, calling on the league to reverse its controversial policy on player protests during the national anthem.
Roughly 60 civil rights activists showed up at the rally in Midtown chanting “take a knee, stand your ground, if you don’t get it, shut it down.”
National Action Network leader Kirsten John Foy said the NFL decided to “shred” the U.S. constitution with its new policy.
“We are not going to let the NFL owners be a proxy for a fascist President. We’re not going to let the NFL owners resurrect slavery in the 21st century in the name of professional sport,” said Foy.
The protest took place two days after the league’s owners, in a surprise move, announced that teams will be fined if their players take a pregame knee during the national anthem.
The ban drew instant criticism from several players arguing that the league was wrong to block their ability to express themselves on the field.
Former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick pioneered the now-common practice of players taking a knee during the anthem to protest police brutality against blacks.
“The NFL is complicit in the oppression of black and brown people in this moment,” said activist Tamika Mallory.
“What is being said is that the n------ don’t have basic rights.”
The Rev. Mark Thompson tied the policy to the midterm elections.
“Donald Trump has weaponized the national anthem,” the radio host said. “Make no mistake: We all know what month football season starts. It starts in September. He wants us to have a debate about patriotism and the anthem leading into the midterms, because he fears the blue wave coming.”