1:48
- ABC News
- August 12, 2018
As Charlottesville echoes, anthem debate reignites
ABC News' Zachary Kiesch looks at the root of the NFL anthem debate.
1:48
.....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
It wasn't the first time the president inserted himself into the anthem debate. At a campaign-style rally in Alabama last year, Trump said players who kneel should be \"fired.\"
“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!’” Trump said.
The comments led to league-wide protests.
Trump also drew the ire of football players and some fans when he reneged on a White House invitation to the Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles, walking back a long-standing tradition to honor and host championship teams.
One of those Eagles players was Malcolm Jenkins, who protested Thursday by raising a fist. Before the game, he took to Twitter not to talk about football -- but to raise awareness about the prison system and the number of blacks and other people of color locked up.
“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...”
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
— Malcolm Jenkins (@MalcolmJenkins) August 9, 2018
America. We are the anomalies... pic.twitter.com/gCeNKuTl1d
In May, facing declining viewership and bad PR, the NFL ratified its national anthem policy. The changes gave the league the power to fine a team if a player protests during the anthem, and left it up to the teams to determine whether a player would be disciplined for a protest.
The players' union filed a grievance over the policy and considered taking legal action.
In the interim, both parties agreed to shelve the new policy temporarily while they attempt to work out a resolution. But the NFL has been clear that it wants players to stand -- not because the issues have been resolved, but because it’s good for business.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/kaepernick-1-gty-er-170823_hpEmbed_2_13x9_384.jpg\")
\"The NFL has been engaged in constructive discussions with the NFL Players Association regarding the anthem and issues of equality and social justice that are of concern to many Americans,\" the league said in a written statement.
\"The anthem will continue to be played before every game, and all player and non-player personnel on the field at that time are expected to stand during the presentation of the flag and performance of the anthem. Personnel who do not wish to do so can choose to remain in the locker room. We remain committed to working with the players to identify solutions and to continue making progress on important social issues affecting our communities.\"
Beyond the gridiron, Sterling Brown, a guard for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, parked illegally in front of a Walgreens earlier this year. In Wisconsin, the infraction, by law, warrants a fine.
But Brown was instead arrested and officers used a stun gun on him.
The NBA, for its part, has taken a different stance and thus far avoided a public relations crisis. It has embraced its players' activism.
Trump, meanwhile, has criticized NBA players, too. Just last weekend, the game's biggest star -- LeBron James -- became a target of a presidential tweet.
It's hard to ignore race in the president's war of words with athletes. Race will be a central topic Sunday, too, when white supremacists descend onto the nation's capital on the anniversary of the deadly Charlottesville riot.
President Trump was blitzed with criticism last year when a few days after the riots he said \"many sides\" -- not just the white supremacists but the counterprotesters as well -- were to blame.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/Sports/nfl-protests-kaepernick-reid-ap-jt-170928_hpMain_1_4x3t_384.jpg\")
On Saturday, Trump tweeted that the riots \"resulted in senseless death and division.\" He also condemned \"all types of racism and acts of violence.\"
The riots in Charlottesville a year ago resulted in senseless death and division. We must come together as a nation. I condemn all types of racism and acts of violence. Peace to ALL Americans!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 11, 2018
Many will watching, however, to see how Trump, who is on a working vacation in New Jersey and away from Washington, D.C., will respond after Sunday's rallies right outside the White House.
The protests are expected to last a few hours -- about the same amount of time as a football game on a Sunday afternoon.
","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/News/charlottesville-anniversary-nfl-anthem-debate-reignites-reporters-notebook/story?id=57132728","legacySlug":"/news/story/charlottesville-anniversary-nfl-anthem-debate-reignites-reporters-notebook-57132728","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"03:12","publishDate":"08-12-2018","updatedTime":"03:11","updatedDate":"08-12-2018","socialImage":{"alt":"San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid (35) and quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Santa Clara, Calif., Sept. 12, 2016.","credit":"Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP, FILE","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Sports/nfl-protests-kaepernick-reid-ap-jt-170928_hpMain_1_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"8/12/2018 03:12:04 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":57132728,"headline":"As Charlottesville echoes, anthem debate reignites","mediaAssetTitle":"NFL protest column?","description":"ABC News' Zachary Kiesch looks at the root of the NFL anthem debate.","duration":"1:48","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/08/180810_gma_faris_0703_fix_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["132488083","132306053","132266872"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"video","date":"April 29, 2026","headline":"Grand jury indicts former FBI director over Instagram post","section":"News","slug":"/video/132488083","id":"132488083","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Grand jury indicts former FBI director over Instagram post","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Grand jury indicts former FBI director over Instagram post","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260429_gma_thomas_comey2_706_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 23, 2026","headline":"Trump orders Navy to 'shoot and kill' any boat laying mines in Strait of Hormuz","section":"News","slug":"/video/132306053","id":"132306053","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Trump orders Navy to 'shoot and kill' any boat laying mines in Strait of Hormuz","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Trump orders Navy to 'shoot and kill' any boat laying mines in Strait of Hormuz","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260423_gma_scott_ceasefire3_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 22, 2026","headline":"Fallout after Fed nominee grilled on Capitol Hill","section":"News","slug":"/video/132266872","id":"132266872","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Fallout after Fed nominee grilled on Capitol Hill","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Fallout after Fed nominee grilled on Capitol Hill","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260422_gma_schulze_fed3_713_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"As Charlottesville echoes, anthem debate reignites","description":"ABC News' Zachary Kiesch looks at the root of the NFL anthem debate.","duration":"1:48","uploadDate":"08-12-2018","publication":"08-12-2018","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/08/180810_gma_faris_0703_fix_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2018/08/180810_gma_faris_0703_fix_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/charlottesville-anniversary-nfl-anthem-debate-reignites-reporters-notebook-57132728"}},"playlist":[{"id":"132748964","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132636882","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132747869","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132738086","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132714218","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132701634","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132706335","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132675442","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132665875","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132628890","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132569874","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132567885","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132510121","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132473181","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132497933","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132281378","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132283010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132273278","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132231169","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132206748","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:news:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"news","title":"As Charlottesville echoes, anthem debate reignites","pubTime":"23:12","pubDate":"08-11-2018","modTime":"23:11","modDate":"08-11-2018","taxonomyTags":"none","id":57132728,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"As Charlottesville echoes, anthem debate reignites","mediaAssetTitle":"NFL protest column?","videoId":57132728,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/news/story/charlottesville-anniversary-nfl-anthem-debate-reignites-reporters-notebook-57132728"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/57132728","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/57132728","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};