Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe. - Frederick Douglass
PHOTO CREDIT BY KIRBY LEE/USA TODAY SPORTS
San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Eli Harold, quarterback Colin Kaepernick and free safety Eric Reid kneel in protest during the playing of the national anthem before a NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium.
San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Eli Harold, quarterback Colin Kaepernick and free safety Eric Reid kneel in protest during the playing of the national anthem before a NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium.
www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/ruth-bader-ginsburg-calls-na...
WASHINGTON — Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has called the protests of football players who decline to stand for the national anthem “dumb and disrespectful.”
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2016 | VICE NEWS | VIDEO
National Anthem Protests Are Spreading To High School Football
“The police’s duty is to protect and serve, and if you feel like they’re not doing that, then you need to speak up,” Berkeley High School senior Armani Turner-Jenkins told his teammates in a locker room meeting.
He’s among the young people around the country turning what was a national controversy started by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick — who hasn’t been standing during the national anthem to protest the treatment of African-Americans by police officers — into their own local protests.
“All of us were thinking about it soon as we saw Kaepernick do it one day,” team captain Jaden Lewis told VICE News correspondent Jay Caspian Kang. “We’re like, ‘Let’s stand up with these other teams, with these other players. Let’s take it serious.'”
Protests against racism are not new to Berkeley students. Last year, a student left a threatening message on a computer in the school’s library, prompting more than half of the student body to walk out of class. In 2014, a noose was left to hang on a tree on campus.
“That’s my history that you’re kind of just disrespecting and putting it out there, and it’s not funny,” team captain Brandon Bailey said.
The Berkeley football team, inspired by Kaepernick and with the support of their coach, decided to take action in the form of a protest.
“We’re kneeling down to stand up for black oppression and police brutality, and with us locking arms it shows that we’re doing it as a team and we’re united in what we’re doing,” Bailey said.
***
SEPTEMBER 23, 2017
San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Eli Harold (58), quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) and free safety Eric Reid (35) kneel in protest during the U.S. national anthem.
kelo.com/news/articles/2017/sep/23/nfl-condemns-trumps-co...
***
Saturday, September 23, 2017 11:58 a.m. CDT | News World |
By Barbara Goldberg and James Oliphant |
(Additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles and Joel Schectman in Washington; editing by Marguerita Choy, Mary Milliken and Jason Neely)
Trump renews clash with U.S. sports world
kelo.com/news/articles/2017/sep/23/nfl-condemns-trumps-co...
SOMERSET, N.J. (Reuters) - President Donald Trump renewed his spat with the sports world on Sunday, again calling for National Football League owners to fire players who protest during the U.S. national anthem.
In an early morning tweet, Trump suggested fans could boycott NFL games in order to pressure teams to discipline players who protest the anthem.
"If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast," Trump wrote on Sunday. "Fire or suspend!"
In a second tweet, Trump said that the "league should back" fans who are upset about the protests.
Trump is spending the weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, and held no public events on Saturday.
On Saturday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Trump's first statements on the matter, which came during a political rally in Alabama on Friday, revealed an "unfortunate lack of respect" for the NFL and its players.
At the rally, Trump suggested any protesting football player was a "son of a bitch" and should lose his job.
"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now ... He is fired'," Trump said on Friday at a rally for Alabama Senate Republican candidate Luther Strange.
Trump said in Twitter messages later on Saturday that, if NFL players wanted "the privilege" of high salaries, they "should stand for the National Anthem. If not, YOU'RE FIRED. Find something else to do!"
Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick stirred a polarizing national debate in 2016 after refusing to stand during pre-game renditions of the "Star Spangled Banner".
Instead, Kaepernick put one knee to the ground to protest against police violence against African-Americans. Several players have since made similar gestures of protest before games.
As commissioner, Goodell reports to NFL owners, some of whom have supported Trump in the past. New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, a major Trump presidential campaign donor, was confirmed by the Senate last month as Trump's pick to serve as U.S. ambassador to Britain.
The union representing professional football players also rejected Trump's comments, saying it would defend their right to freedom of expression.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.
'INVITATION WITHDRAWN!'
National Basketball Association players also struck back against comments by the president on Saturday after Trump clashed with one of the biggest stars in the NBA.
In an early morning Twitter message on Saturday, the president rescinded a White House invitation to Stephen Curry, who had said he would "vote" against the planned visit by the NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
"Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!" Trump tweeted.
Curry told a news conference in Oakland, California: "It's beneath the leader of a country to go that route."
"It's not what leaders do," he said.
The Oakland-based Golden State Warriors said in a statement the team had intended to meet to discuss the potential visit at the first opportunity on Saturday morning.
"We accept that President Trump has made it clear that we are not invited," the team said.
LeBron James came to Curry's defense, disputing Trump's assertion that visiting the White House was an honor.
"Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!" James, a prominent supporter of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential elections, said on Twitter.
Singer Stevie Wonder appeared to evoke protests by Kaepernick and other athletes when he put one knee to the stage during a concert at the Global Citizen Festival in New York City on Saturday.
"Tonight, I'm taking a knee for America," Wonder told the audience as his son, Kwame Morris, helped him down.
Wonder then put his other leg down so that he was kneeling and facing the cheering crowd, with his son doing the same.
"I’m taking both knees," Wonder said. "Both knees in prayer for our planet, our future, our leaders of the world and our globe."
***
Van Jones: Trump goes for cheap applause lines
Newsroom
edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/09/24/van-jones-dona...
CNN's Van Jones slammed President Donald Trump's suggestion that NFL team owners should fire players who kneel during the national anthem.
Source: CNN
edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/09/24/van-jones-dona...
***
Stevie Wonder takes both knees 'for America'
Musician Stevie Wonder took both knees at a New York music festival, seemingly showing solidarity with NFL players criticized by President Donald Trump hours earlier.
Source: CNN
edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/09/24/stevie-wonder-...
***
The Difference Between President Trump and President Obama's Reactions to the NFL Kneeling Movement | TIME
time.com/4955050/trump-obama-nfl-nba-kaepernick-kneeling/
***
ZONDAG 24 SEPTEMBER 2017 | NOS
NFL-spelers trotseren Trump: 100 sporters protesteren tijdens volkslied
nos.nl/artikel/2194674-nfl-spelers-trotseren-trump-100-sp...
***
ZONDAG 24 SEPTEMBER 2017 | WEL.NL
Sterren steunen NFL-spelers tegen Trump
www.msn.com/nl-nl/nieuws/buitenland/sterren-steunen-nfl-s...
Een reeks aan Hollywoodsterren en artiesten hebben hun steun uitgesproken voor American Footballspelers die uit protest weigeren op de staan wanneer het volkslied wordt gespeeld. President Trump vindt dat de spelers moeten worden ontslagen. Tv-persoonlijkheden zoals Ellen DeGeneres en Chelsea Handler, maar ook zanger John Legend zeiden achter de NFL-spelers te staan.
"Als Footballfan ben ik vandaag trots op de NFL-spelers. Er is niets Amerikaanser dan het recht om vreedzaam te protesteren", twitterde Ellen DeGeneres in reactie. Chelsea Handler reageerde op een tweet van Trump dat er bijna niemand meer kijkt naar de sportwedstrijden: "Ik kijk naar mijn eerste wedstrijd op zondag, dankzij jou, racist". Zanger John Legend schreef zelf een heel essay op de website Slate. "Protest is patriottisme... als we protest in de naam van patriottisme onderdrukken, dan zijn we geen patriotten maar tirannen, aldus Legend.
De Amerikaanse president Donald Trump zei vrijdagavond tijdens een bijeenkomst dat NFL-spelers die niet opstaan voor de vlag en het volkslied moeten worden ontslagen. "Zou het niet geweldig als de bazen van die spelers die onze vlag niet respecteren, zouden zeggen: haal die klootzak van het veld, hij is ontslagen", aldus Trump. Veel American Footballspelers knielen tijdens het hijsen van de vlag of het spelen van het volkslied, uit protest tegen politiegeweld en discriminatie tegen zwarte Amerikanen.
Op zondag werd tijdens meerdere NFL-wedstrijden opnieuw geprotesteerd door spelers. Ook hielden Footballspelers elkaars armen vast tijdens het volkslied als teken van eenheid.
***
SEPTEMBER 27, 2017
George Clooney uit zijn bezorgdheid over de 'kniel-discussie' in Amerika - Dit doet hij middels een gedicht, genaamd 'Prayer for Our Country'.
www.filmtotaal.nl/nieuws/57245
''I pray for my country.
I pray that we can find more that unites us than divides us.
I pray that our nation's leaders want to do the same.
I pray that young children like Tamir Rice* can feel safe in their own neighborhood.
I pray for all of our children.
I pray for our police and our first responders.
I pray for our men and women of the armed services.
I pray that dissent will always be protected in this great country.
I pray for a more perfect union.
And when I pray, I kneel''.
- George Clooney
***
SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
NFL star Michael Bennett challenges Americans to treat each other better | CNN POLITICS | By Josiah Ryan
edition.cnn.com/2017/09/28/politics/nfl-michael-bennett-n...
(CNN)Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett on Wednesday said he and fellow NFL players who have protested during the National Anthem are spiritually challenging Americans to change the way they see each other, and treat each other.
"I would like to challenge every American that is watching this show to treat people better," said Bennett, speaking at a CNN town hall moderated by Anderson Cooper. "That really is what it's about. It's about treating people like human beings. That's the first step."
***
OCTOBER 4, 2017 | FOR THE WIN
By: Alysha Tsuji | October 4, 2017 6:08 pm
Kendrick Lamar compares himself to Colin Kaepernick: ‘I gotta think beyond the moment’
ftw.usatoday.com/2017/10/kendrick-lamar-colin-kaepernick-...
“Ultimately, you want to be a person that stands for something. Whether the plan works or not, I want to be remembered as that. Same thing with Colin Kaepernick. I’m sure they feel he want to give up. They think he’s gonna give up, but he want to stand for something.
Simple as that. You don’t look at the moment, whether it is gonna work or not. No, you look at what the next generation is gonna receive from it. If I quit what I’m doing or feel like I can’t go no longer because I have naysayers or I have people behind the scenes that say I can’t do it or I feel a little discouraged, I gotta think beyond the moment. You have to look at it from a base of, ‘What do you want to be remembered for?’ Simple as that.”
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#TakeAknee to support NFL players
***
Children learn from what they see. We need to set an example of truth and action.
- Howard Rainer, Taos Pueblo-Creek (2012)
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American Indians protest the Washington Redskins' name on Monday night at AT&T Stadium | YouTube VIDEO
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ESPN Outside the Lines Redskins Debate w/ Gyasi Ross and Dave Zirin | YouTube VIDEO
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THE HYPOCRISY OF THE WASHINGTON NFL STATEMENT RELATING TO TRUMP’S CALL TO ‘FIRE OR SUSPEND’ PLAYERS WHO TAKE A KNEE DURING NATIONAL ANTHEM BY LEVI RICKERT / CURRENTS / 24 SEP 2017
nativenewsonline.net/currents/hypocrisy-washington-nfl-st...
Regardless of Trump’s intentions, it is time for the Washington football team to live up to its statement released this evening.
***
Washington Redskins name controversy | Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Redskins_name_controversy
***
AUGUST 29, 2017
Redskins name and logo barred by Green Acres School in North Bethesda, Md. | Washington Post
www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/green-acres-scho...
A North Bethesda private school will no longer allow students or staff members to wear apparel bearing the Washington Redskins team name or logo, saying such gear is racially offensive and at odds with the school’s mission.
***
POLITICS 06/19/2017 12:19 pm ET Updated Jun 19, 2017
The Supreme Court Just Made A Washington ‘Redskins’ Name Change Much Less Likely
The Supreme Court boosted the team’s controversial name by striking down a law banning “disparaging” trademarks.
By Travis Waldron
www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/washington-football-team-nam...
***
MAY 19, 2016 | WASHINGTON POST | By Ian Shapira
A brief history of the word ‘redskin’ and how it became a source of controversy
www.washingtonpost.com/local/a-brief-history-of-the-word-...
The origin of the word “redskin” has long been disputed by linguists, Native American activists who consider it a slur and those who insist that the name of Washington’s football team honors Indians rather than disparages them. The word’s roots extend back to at least the mid-18th century, as colonists and Native Americans began clashing.
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MAY 19, 2016 | WASHINGTON POST | By John Woodrow Cox, Scott Clement and Theresa Vargas
New poll finds 9 in 10 Native Americans aren’t offended by Redskins name
www.washingtonpost.com/local/new-poll-finds-9-in-10-nativ...
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MAY 25, 2016 | LOS ANGELES TIMES | By Scott Martelle
Opinion Forget the poll: 'Redskin' offends, and the NFL should drop the name
www.latimes.com/opinion/la-ol-washington-redskins-racism-...
The Oxford English Dictionary describes the word as “somewhat dated and frequently considered offensive,” while Webster’s says it is “considered by many to be an offensive term.” “Redskin” is an epithet, and it needs to go.
***
NOVEMBER 1, 2016 | THE HOCKEY NEWS | Jared Clinton
ENGLAND’S OLDEST TEAM SCRAPS REDSKINS NAME, UNVEILS NEW REDHAWKS LOGO, JERSEYS
www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/england-s-oldest-team-...
After more than 40 years being known as the Redskins, England’s Streatham IHC officially unveiled new jerseys bearing the new name and logo of the club.
***
NOVEMBER 5, 2015 | CNN | by Aaron Smith
Adidas will help schools to change logos offensive to Native Americans
money.cnn.com/2015/11/05/news/companies/adidas-native-ame...
Adidas said it will help high schools switch from mascots and logos that are offensive to Native Americans.
Adidas said on Thursday that it will "offer its design resources" and financial assistance to any high school that wants to make the change. The company said that 2,000 of the 27,000 high schools in America "use names that cause concern for many tribal communities."
***
The Powerful Medicine of Michael Haney
01/09/2008 06:50 pm ET Updated Nov 17, 2011 |
HUFFPOST | By Tim Giago
www.huffingtonpost.com/tim-giago/the-powerful-medicine-of...
Michael Haney is gone now, but his spirit is still with the many friends he accumulated in his years on this Maka Ina, Mother Earth. It has always been his prayer that someday the United States of America will grow up and recognize the fact known to 90 percent of all Native Americans that misusing us as mascots for your fun and games is racist.
The medicine of Michael Haney won out in the end in Seattle.
***
Change the Mascot.org
Change the Mascot is a national campaign to end the use of the racial slur “r*dskins” as the mascot and name of the NFL team in Washington, D.C. Launched by the Oneida Indian Nation, the campaign calls upon the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell to do the right thing and bring an end the use of the racial epithet.
www.changethemascot.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Change...
***
OCTOBER 3, 2017 | NATIVE NEWS ONLINE.NET
REFLECTIONS OF MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL AND LAS VEGAS BY MARK CHARLES / CURRENTS, OPINION / 03 OCT 2017
nativenewsonline.net/currents/reflections-monday-night-fo...
Last night on ABC/ESPN Monday Night Football, the visiting team came out of the tunnel with a racist mascot on their jerseys and helmets, and mere minutes after the playing of the National Anthem, the host team’s fans were still on their feet, mimicking the throwing of tomahawks and singing some sort of pathetic war whoop. Both team’s owners seemed fine with it.
No one in the broadcast booth said anything. President Trump declined to tweet about it. And all the sponsors and advertisers like GMC, Geico, Applebee’s, several beer companies and many other mainstream corporations (both foreign and domestic) shamelessly hawked their wares throughout the entire event.
***
OCTOBER 4th 2017 | By Dylan Johnson | THE EXCELSIOR
The NFL’s Monetary Morality
On Sept. 22, President Donald Trump commented on a protest movement that Colin Kaepernick initiated about a year ago. Kaepernick, an NFL quarterback, decided to take a knee during the singing of the National Anthem instead of standing. He did this to bring attention to the racial inequality and police brutality in our country. During a rally in Alabama last week, Trump said, “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out.
He’s fired. He’s fired!’”. The President of the United States sees this form of protest as a disrespect to our flag and to what the country stands for as a whole. President Trump also urged fans to leave the stadium and boycott the NFL teams who allowed their athletes to participate in these protests.
___
The Excelsior has been an integral part of the news service at Brooklyn College since 1988. We are a student run organization that takes on the responsibilities of a fully functional and organized news publication. The staff at The Excelsior is committed to bringing the students at Brooklyn College, as well as our viewers on the web, unbiased, entertaining, and thorough reports of the who, what, where, when, and why.
As aspiring journalists, editors, creative writers, photographers, critics, and most of all students of the craft, we are thrilled to bring you the Excelsior website, Twitter, and Facebook. We want to connect with YOU! So what are you waiting for?
***
OCTOBER 16, 2017 | NATIVE NEWS ONLINE.NET
AT THE CORE OF THE NFL & AMERICA’S SICKNESS LIES A POTENTIALLY GREAT HEALING – PART II BY JEROME IRWIN / CURRENTS, OPINION / 16 OCT 2017
nativenewsonline.net/opinion/core-nfl-americas-sickness-l...
PART II OF II
De Maurice Smith, head of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), in an effort to stand up for his players, recently tweeted, “The NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and New York Giants co-owner John Mara said, in the presence of other owners, that they would respect the Constitutional rights of our members without retribution…I look forward to the day when everyone on Management can become united and truly embrace and articulate what the Flag stand for: Liberty and Justice For All! Instead of some of them just talking about standing…No player is disrespecting our country or our flag. As thousands have shown in the past, it takes bravery and courage to speak out and confront these issues as our players have, especially when it is unpopular with some. There is room for Management to do the same and maybe then players do not have to risk the taunts and threats alone. This is their opportunity to lead as well and will be a true test of their motto that Football is Family. (NFLPA reiterates, “No Player is Disrespecting Our Country”, Shalize Manza Young, Shutddown Corner, Oct 9th, 2017).
***
OCTOBER 16, 2017 | Blastingnews
Curated byRyan C. Devault Published on: 16 October 2017
Colin Kaepernick files grievance against NFL owners
us.blastingnews.com/sports/2017/10/colin-kaepernick-files...
#Colin Kaepernick has been making headlines since last year for his protesting and activism. He was the first #NFL quarterback to begin kneeling during the #National Anthem in a protest against police brutality. Since then, he hasn't been given a job back with the NFL. After a long battle, Kaepernick has finally decided to file a grievance. This has been confirmed in a report by ESPN, sending the Kaepernick story in an entirely new direction for the next news cycle.
***
OCTOBER 25, 2017 | By Cecelia Hopkins
From The Girl That Will Be Taking A Knee During The National Anthem
www.theodysseyonline.com/girl-taking-knee-during-national...
Taking a knee during the national anthem is not disrespectful, but since we're on the topic.
www.theodysseyonline.com/girl-taking-knee-during-national...
Taking a knee during the national anthem has been in the news for about a year now, and either people understand it, don’t understand it, or just don’t care to understand it but are against it.
I don’t know how many times a person that understands kneeling during the national anthem has to say this but TAKING A KNEE DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FLAG.
Taking a knee during the flag is a moment for police brutality and the injustice for Black Americans.
Colin Kaepernick chose to take a knee during the national anthem to start a stir in the media and guess what; he achieved doing that. He wanted people to ask why he chose to take a knee instead of standing up. He wanted to start a controversy because he understands that injustice to one is an injustice to all.
Let’s discuss the history of the national anthem since people keep thinking taking a knee is disrespectful. The national anthem is made up of four verses written by Francis Scott Key. There was a war in 1812 between Britain and the United States that inspired the national anthem.
Britain told slaves in America that if they came and fought for them, then they would be set free after the war, so several of slaves escaped America and fought for Britain.
The national anthem is about this war against Britain and the third verse is specifically about slaves. A few lines from the third verse reads, “Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution/ No refugee could save the hireling and slave.” This third verse of a song that we all respect so much is celebrating the deaths of the slaves.
We want to end racism, but our national anthem is speaking racism. So excuse me and others for taking a knee during the national anthem for the injustice of Blacks in America while the song playing is celebrating the deaths of my ancestors.
And since we're talking about disrespecting the flag, isn’t it disrespectful to just play the music and not sing the words? Or what about talking during the national anthem, isn’t that disrespectful? Or when we’re at home and sitting down while the national anthem is playing on the tv, shouldn’t we stand up and put our right hand over our heart?
People don’t show respect to the national anthem or the flag on a daily basis, but when people chose to take a knee during the duration of the national anthem, it’s all of a sudden a disrespectful thing because of what, they're black and trying to make a point.
So before you keep saying we are disrespecting the flag and try to fire NFL players for using their right to freedom of speech, know what you're talking about because the flag is disrespecting us and our ancestors.
***
NOVEMBER 23, 2017 | NATIVE NEWS ONLINE.NET
FORMER SAN FRANCISCO QUARTERBACK COLIN KAEPERNICK HONORED BY AMERICAN INDIANS ON ALCATRAZ ISLAND BY LEVI RICKERT
nativenewsonline.net/currents/former-san-francisco-quarte...
ALCATRAZ ISLAND – Former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has drawn criticism from President Trump for taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem at the beginning of National Football League games last year, showed up on Alcatraz Island to lend his support to American Indians at the annual “Indigenous Peoples Sunrise Ceremony.” Kaepernick wore a t-shirt bearing the image of Sitting Bull.
“I realize that our fight for our justice, for our freedom, and realizing that we’re in this fight together makes it all the more powerful,” Kaepernick said as he addressed the crowd.
“IF THERE IS ONE THING I TAKE AWAY FROM TODAY AND SEEING THE BEAUTY OF EVERYONE OUT HERE, IT’S THAT WE ARE ONLY GETTING STRONGER EVERY DAY, WE’RE ONLY GETTING LARGER AND LARGER EVERY DAY. I SEE STRENGTH IN EVERYBODY,” HE CONTINUED. “THE DANCING, THE RITUALS – THAT IS OUR RESISTANCE. WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT. WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE. WE FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM, AND WE CONTINUE ON THAT PATH.”
Thursday’s event was not the first time Kaepernick showed his support for American Indian causes. Last December, Kaepernick gave $50,000 to the the Mni Wiconi Health Clinic Partnership at Standing Rock during the resistance by American Indians to stop the Dakota Access oil pipeline.
***
Andra Day - Stand Up For Something feat. Common
You can have all the money in your hands
All the possessions anyone can ever have
But it's all worthless treasure, true worth is only measured
Not by what you got, but what you got in your heart
You can have, you can have everything
What does it, what does it mean?
***
APRIL 21, 2018 | AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL | TIME
Colin Kaepernick Wins Amnesty International's Highest Honor
time.com/5248606/colin-kaepernick-wins-amnesty-internatio...
Colin Kaepernick may not have a job on the football field, but much of the world is still cheering for him.
Amnesty International, the global human rights organization, gave Kaepernick its highest honor — the 2018 Ambassador of Conscience Award — in Amsterdam on Saturday. Past winners of the award, which “celebrates individuals and groups who speak out for justice,” include former South Africa president Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, the education activist from Pakistan who survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban, and rock group U2.
The organization recognized Kaepernick for his protest against police violence: his action, kneeling during the national anthem before NFL games, sparked a movement replicated across America and the world, starting a debate about free speech and patriotism that was inflamed by the President of the United States, one of Kaepernick’s most relentless critics.
“When high-profile people choose to take a stand for human rights, it emboldens others,” says Augusta Quiney, Amnesty International’s director of Art for Amnesty, a program that works with artists and entertainers on human rights activism. “For us, this is an opportunity to be on the right side of history.”
“This is an award I share with all of the countless people throughout the world combating the human rights violations of police officers, and their uses of oppressive and excessive force,” Kaepernick said in statement released by Amnesty International. “To quote Malcolm X, when he said that he, ‘will join in with anyone — I don’t care what color you are — as long as you want to change this miserable condition that exists on this earth,’ I am here to join with you all in this battle against police violence.
“While taking a knee is a physical display that challenges the merits of who is excluded from the notion of freedom, liberty, and justice for all, the protest is also rooted in a convergence of my moralistic beliefs, and my love for the people,” said Kaepernick. His former teammate Eric Reid, who knelt in solidarity with Kaepernick during the anthem — and remains unsigned as a free agent this NFL offseason — presented Kaepernick with the award.
***
MAY 24, 2018 | CNN
NFL owners say players must stand for the National Anthem
edition.cnn.com/2018/05/23/sport/nfl-spring-league-meetin...
FL players must stand during the National Anthem this season, team owners decided Wednesday, a reaction to fierce backlash against some who took a knee in symbolic opposition to the systemic oppression of people of color, including by police.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said during a news conference at the meeting in Atlanta that teams whose players and personnel do not stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem will be fined by the league.
Each team may develop its own work rules regarding players or personnel who do not comply with the policy, which could include fines. The new policy does give players the option to remain in the locker room during the playing of the anthem if they do not wish to comply.
With this change, the NFL's game operations manual will be revised to remove the requirement that all players be on the field for the anthem. Previously, there had been no rule that prevented players from protesting.
"We want people to be respectful to the National Anthem," Goodell said. "We want people to stand, that's all personnel, and make sure that they treat this moment in a respectful fashion that's something I think we owe. We've been very sensitive in making sure that we give players choices, but we do believe that that moment is an important moment and one that we are going to focus on."
The move by owners stems from the silent protests that began in 2016, when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeled during the anthem to draw attention to racial injustice.
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MAY 29, 2018 | CLICK ON DETROIT
NFL players are considering sitting out the entire season until Colin Kaepernick is signed
Kaepernick has not played since 2016
www.clickondetroit.com/sports/nfl-players-are-considering...
Kaepernick's last NFL game was in 2016, the same year he began to kneel during the national anthem to protest racial inequality.
Reid, who played with Kaepernick, kneeled alongside him. Reid also recently filed a collusion grievance against the NFL, as no team has signed him three months into the NFL's offseason. Reid's attorney also represents Kaepernick in his own collusion grievance, which was filed against the NFL in October.
Reid finished the 2017 season with 67 total tackles and two interceptions in 13 games.
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio also reported documents that showed multiple teams viewed Kaepernick as "a starting NFL quarterback in 2017."
***
SEPTEMBER 4, 2018 | THE WASHINGTON POST
He would be the first to kneel’: Pat Tillman exploited to attack Kaepernick, biographer says
www-washingtonpost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.washing...
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NFL Says Social Justice Issues Raised By Colin Kaepernick 'Deserve Our Attention and Action'
2018/09/04 | SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
www.si.com/nfl/2018/09/04/nfl-statement-colin-kaepernick-...
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