NFL BANS PLAYERS FROM KNEELING IN PROTEST

Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, released the following statement after the NFL announced that players will no longer be permitted to kneel in protest during the playing of the national anthem.

  "Wednesday, the NFL announced their intention to smother protest and strangle activism. By forcing players to stand for the national anthem while on the field, and relegating those who chose to protest during the anthem to the locker room, they are effectively creating an other, hiding dissenting voices from the public eye to maintain their own corporate interest and public image."

"With this action, the NFL has made its intentions clear and revealed the character of the organization. They have given in to hateful voices who responded to peaceful protest with vitriol and misinformation. At best they ignore the the crucial issues of police misconduct and racial inequity for which players engaged in protest, at worst they endorse them. This is unsurprising from an organization that routinely seeks to bury anything that they feel is bad for business, and views its players as commodities rather than individuals."

"I stand with Colin Kaepernick, and with all players who choose to take a knee. In exercising his right to free speech and non-violent protest, Kaepernick ignited a movement and has now joined Nelson Mandela and other heroes in receiving Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award. This movement extends far beyond Kaepernick himself and forces the country to acknowledge and address the daily injustices of police misconduct and racial bias. It cannot be ignored that the NFL's ruling was established mere hours before the nation saw video of another black athlete, Sterling Brown, inexplicably abused and attacked at the hands of Milwaukee police."

"Such instances are pervasive and disturbing, whether for a well known athlete or the many more with less prominent profiles and less national outrage. Athletes who choose to kneel perform the vital duty of ensuring that these systemic injustices do not fade from the public consciousness. Disruption is essential to protest, and neither the actions of player protest nor the issues for which they kneel can be hidden away."

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We disagree with Councilman Williams on the issue, and say that since Mr. Kaepernick is an employee of the NFL, he must adhere to company policy unless it is illegal. 

New York City and the City Council have certain rules to follow. Does Councilman Williams follow every single rule, or does he kneel in the council chambers when a vote is taken?

We would challenge Councilman Williams to kneel every time a vote is taken in the council, and see what course is taken by the speaker or other council members. Yes let's see how many other council members would kneel with Councilman Williams during a council vote. 

Councilman Williams has made history in his political career, and it is a novel idea to stand with Mr. Kaepernick, but put your political career where your mouth is Councilman Williams kneel down in the council chamber every time a vote is to be taken.