The Cleveland Browns have done more to perfectly frame the debate (and dilemma) around the National Anthem protests than all of Congress and TV’s talking heads. The Browns organization, like many professional sports franchises, has seen some of its players take a knee during the traditional pregame singing of the National Anthem this year. It’s a protest movement first brought to national attention last year by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick while he was the 49ers quarterback. The players are protesting what they see as systemic equality problems in the US. By refusing to honor the flag and the anthem, the players mean to — as Kaerpernick said — “stand with the people that are being oppressed.”
The Browns are now dealing with a reactive protest from the Cleveland police, who say they will refuse to carry the flag at the Browns opener because of Browns players who knelt during the National Anthem at a preseason game on August 21. The police want the Browns organization to get their players in line and have the players acknowledge that they enjoy the protections provided the country they are seen to be protesting against. Since the August 21 instance, the Browns players have locked arms, but not knelt during the anthem. The day the players knelt, the Browns organization distilled the essence of the dilemma perfectly into two sentences — basically 1) we respect the tradition and the country and 2) we respect the rights of its citizens to act with freedom of expression so long as it doesn’t harm anyone. The Browns statement is below:
“As an organization, we have a profound respect for our country’s national anthem, flag and the servicemen and servicewomen in the United States and abroad. We feel it’s important for our team to join in this great tradition and special moment of recognition; at the same time, we also respect the great liberties afforded by our country, including the freedom of personal expression.”
