The First Amendment specifically states, all citizens of the U.S have the right to Freedom of Speech, but when this right is exercised, it is censured by the president. The First Amendment gives citizens the ability to express their emotions and opinions without being arrested or criticized, if the stability of the government the is not risked in the process. Currently, people are refusing to stand for the National Anthem because they believe that minorities lives are not valued approximately as much as their white counterparts. Two years ago an NFL player (Colin Kaepernick) decided to kneel during the national anthem. He later went on to create a Nike commercial, deemed highly controversial. Not only did he protest, but many middle school and high school students did as well. Depending upon the circumstances, the punishment varied amongst the groups. Refusing to stand for the national anthem should be allowed because the First Amendment of the US Constitution protects the freedom of speech and it shocks people into paying attention and generates conversation; despite the fact that not standing for the pledge exemplifies an ineffective and counterproductive way to spread a cause.
The First Amendment of the US Constitution protects the freedom of speech. Congress are forbidden to create laws concerning an establishment of religion, or constraining the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people composedly assemble, and to petition the Government for a rectification of grievances. – the first amendment “According to Title 36 (section 171) of the United States Code”, during the playing of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all persons currently present “except those in (military) uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.” Persons among those that aren’t in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand placed over the heart. Persons in uniform should salute at the note of the anthem and maintain their position until the end. When the flag is not being exhibited, those persons not in uniform turn toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were exhibited. says that the “freedom of speech” does not only apply when you actually speak, but it also applies with; written works, online posts, movies, television, and symbolic speech. According to the first amendment, freedom of speech is allowed under many circumstances, unless the words used fall under sedition ( words encouraging the a rebellion to take down the government. – Free Speech: p. 20 & 21 Laura Egendorf Source D (Kkk) leader claims that the government is “oppressing whites” because of derogatory terms used previously, in reference to other ethnic groups, the court’s response is that terms of that nature are not constitutional (clear and present danger), and are violence prone. -The First Amendment : p. 142 & 160 Leah Farish Source C
Last year president Trump commented about the kneeling during the National Anthem, this began to turn the situation into a national point of contention. “In an interview with “Fox & Friends,” he denounced the protesting players for showing “a lack of respect for our country” and suggested “they should try [moving to] another country.”- Washington Post: Max Boot Mark Masse and liz Clarke Source F David Leonhardt (writer for the New York Times) claims that the whole action of kneeling is distracting the world from the main movement, which is calling out police for killing black people at disproportionate rates in comparison to white people.- ; David Leonhardt Source G According to, Steve Byas (writer of content.ebscohost.com) other students and coaches have followed Kaepernick’s lead. For example, in Camden, New Jersey the coach of Woodrow Wilson High School (Preston Brown) and his assistants kneeled with other football players. They claim their in support of “standing for the flag” it is a “personal issue, and we strongly respect our students experiences and their exercising our country’s First Amendment rights.”- administration at Woodrow Wilson High School; written by Steve Byas Source E In Norfolk, Virginia at Maury High School football players kneel behind the endzone during the national anthem. The coach (Chris Fraser) told Virginia Pilot, “We didn’t make an issue of it, and if they believe in a cause that’s fine.”- Coach of football team at Maury High School; written by Steve Byas Source E
In 2018 the police shot 990 people, most of the victims were either armed or crudely resisting arrest, “according to the Washington Post’s database of fatal police shootings.” Whites were the vast majority, making up 49.9 percent of those victims, blacks 26 percent. That amount of blacks killed or injured is fewer than what the black violent crime rate previously anticipated.-https://nypost.com/2016/09/06/the-lies-told-by-the-black-lives-matter- : Heather Mac Donald Source J In New York City, blacks make up 23 percent of the population, “blacks commit three-quarters of all shootings and 70 percent of all robberies, according to victims and witnesses in their reports to the NYPD.” Whites, on the other hand, commit less than 2 percent of all shootings and 4 percent of all robberies, though they are the majority of the city, making up 34 percent of the population.” :Heather Mac Donald Source J Steve Byas claims that 93 percent of black homicide victims are murdered by each other, and a majority are killed by Hispanics. According to studies, the majority of people that are killed by police are caucasian, the likelihood of a minority being killed is lower than the probability of a caucasian being killed. :Steve Byas Source E
Refusing to stand for the national anthem should be allowed because the First Amendment of the US Constitution protects the freedom of speech and it shocks people into paying attention and generates conversation; not standing for the pledge exemplifies an ineffective and counterproductive way to spread a cause.
African-Americans were killed by police at a rate of 7.2 per million, while whites were killed at a rate of 2.9 per million. “According to Title 36 (section 171) of the United States Code”, during the playing of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all persons currently present “except those in (military) uniform should stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.” Persons among those that aren’t in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should salute at the note of the anthem and maintain their position until the end.When the flag is not being exhibited, those Preston’s turn toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were exhibited. -Debbie Lord Https://www.ajc.com Source B Congress are forbidden to create laws concerning an establishment of religion, or constraining the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people composedly assemble, and to petition the Government for a rectification of grievances.
