Miami Dolphins Players Kneel For Anthem Before Preseason Opener, Donald Trump Criticizes Team On Twitter
The Miami Dolphins seem unconcerned by the NFL’s new stance on national anthem protests, as two of the team’s players kneeled before their preseason home opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Trump Lashes Out At Dolphins For Anthem Protests
President Donald Trump lashed out at the Dolphins on Twitter after wide receivers Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills both took a knee on the sideline. Miami defensive end Robert Quinn protested the anthem by raising his fist, while other players on the squad decided to lock arms.
In a pair of tweets, Trump claimed most of the NFL players continuing to protest the anthem did not even fully understand what they were making statements about, and also said most of the money fans pay to go watch football games “goes to the players.” The president also said the players deserved suspensions without pay if they continued kneeling, a practice free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick first started in August 2016 with the San Francisco 49ers to make a statement about racial inequality and police brutality in the United States.
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The NFL players are at it again – taking a knee when they should be standing proudly for the National Anthem. Numerous players, from different teams, wanted to show their “outrage” at something that most of them are unable to define. They make a fortune doing what they love……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2018
…..Be happy, be cool! A football game, that fans are paying soooo much money to watch and enjoy, is no place to protest. Most of that money goes to the players anyway. Find another way to protest. Stand proudly for your National Anthem or be Suspended Without Pay!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2018
Trump has been a frequent vocal critic of athletes kneeling for the national anthem, and is said to have heavily influenced the NFL’s decision in May to punish players who participate in these types of protests with fines and other sanctions. Last month, the league and its union — the NFL Players’ Association — announced that they would freeze the previously established policies on anthem protests “for the next several weeks” after reaching a standstill on the issue many conservatives have deemed controversial.
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Several other NFL players protested the national anthem this week, which marked the start of the preseason. Philadelphia Eagles players like safety Malcolm Jenkins and cornerback De’Vante Bausby raised their fists in Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Even Kaepernick — who has still been unable to return to the league because of his protests — made clear that he hasn’t abandoned his fight for equality. On Thursday night, during the Dolphins’ game, Kaepernick tweeted a photo of him and Stills standing together while wearing black t-shirts that read “I know my rights.” The former 49ers quarterback praised and thanked Stills and Wilson for continuing his protest.
My brother @kstills continued his protest of systemic oppression tonight by taking a knee. Albert Wilson @iThinkIsee12 joined him in protest. Stay strong brothers!✊🏾
📸 @footcandles#imwithkap #imwithereid #takeaknee pic.twitter.com/LimoadfUcW— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) August 10, 2018
Jenkins also shared this photo of himself in the locker room on Thursday:
Before we enjoy this game lets take some time to ponder that more than 60% of the prison population are people of color. The NFL is made up of 70% African Americans. What you witness on the field does not represent the reality of everyday
America. We are the anomalies… pic.twitter.com/gCeNKuTl1d— Malcolm Jenkins (@MalcolmJenkins) August 9, 2018
The Philadelphia safety drew headlines earlier this summer when he made several signs in response to Trump’s refusal to invite the Eagles to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl victory.
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