I was tired of this a couple of years ago. Now, in the wake of the death of George Floyd and racially-driven protesting all over the country, the National Football League (NFL) and President Donald Trump are back in a war of words over whether the kneeling protests are disrespectful to the flag and the national anthem or not. Deja vu, anyone?
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell posted a video to Twitter Friday evening in which he wrote in the caption that "we [the league] were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier."
Take a look:
We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter. #InspireChange pic.twitter.com/ENWQP8A0sv
— NFL (@NFL) June 5, 2020
"And the protests around the country are emblematic of the centuries of silence, inequality and oppression of black players, coaches, fans, and staff," Goodell said in the video above.
Trump, who has been a consistent critic of athletes protesting during the national anthem, responded to Goodell and the NFL's message late Sunday night.
Could it be even remotely possible that in Roger Goodell’s rather interesting statement of peace and reconciliation, he was intimating that it would now be O.K. for the players to KNEEL, or not to stand, for the National Anthem, thereby disrespecting our Country & our Flag?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 8, 2020
Mr. President, Goodell wasn't "intimating" that it's okay for players to kneel during the anthem. Goodell literally used the word "encourage" to tell players it's okay to protest during the anthem.
Just like before, protesters in the NFL won't back down from displaying their activism during the anthem. And Trump will not back down from being outraged that protesters choose to protest during the anthem and not any other time during the games.
As the headline to this article states, "Here we go again."