Anthem protests losing message in backlash
The NFL says the message players and teams are trying to express is being lost in a political firestorm. The issues have been “overtaken by political forces,” NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart said.
By Barry Wilner NEW YORK » The NFL says the message players and teams are trying to express is being lost in a political firestorm.
The issues have been “overtaken by political forces,” NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart said Thursday, referring to President Trump’s criticism of the league, team owners and players for kneeling during the national anthem.
More than 200 players either knelt or used other means as expressions of unity last weekend. Lockhart said such actions are not a protest against the anthem or the flag.
“One of the impacts is to distort the views of the NFL and particularly our players,” Lockhart said.
Trump said NFL owners fear their players, and he renewed calls for action against those who kneel during the anthem.
“I think they are afraid of their players, if you want to know the truth, and I think it’s disgraceful,” he said in an interview that aired Thursday on “Fox and Friends.” He says “most people agree” with him.
Along with the players who knelt last weekend, full teams, along with some team owners, linked arms either before or during the anthem. Three teams — Pittsburgh, Seattle and Tennessee — did not take the field until after the anthem.
“They are under attack now and the (original) lesson has been forgotten,” Lockhart said. “It is important for everyone to understand what they are talking about, to not see everything in terms of who is up or down politically.
“The NFL players are men of character, many of whom are leaders in their community. They are patriotic, support the military . ... They understand their platform can be used to make the country a better place.”