Weather it’s taking a knee or standing, a group of African American military veterans will tell you they’ve put in the work to give NFL players the freedom to choose.
Today the veterans shared their thoughts with us about the nationwide debate that began after President Donald Trump said team owners should fire players who kneel during the anthem.
“You talking about a desecration of flag because a person kneels for equality and peace, such hypocrites,” Clarence Bradley veteran of U.S. Airforce said
“They are not doing anything to malign the flag, but they are using their platform in which everyone should use to get the point across,” Mark Blue, Retired Niagara Falls Airforce Reserves said.
Kanasha Blue is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and worries players are using Colin Kaepernick’s movement to protest the president’s comments instead of the racial and social injustices they see in this country
“I think right now we’ve gotten side tracked about what the initial issue is,” Blue said.
Army Veteran Bennie Webb said he remembers facing racism on the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
“My fellow white soldiers made a statement I am glad that n***** loving s.o.b. was killed. (pause) How do you think I felt?” Webb said.
“There are other issues more important in our country than to spend this time talking about should we stand or should we kneel,” Reverend Eugene Pierce said.
But other vets see the on the field protests as a sign of disrespect.
“I am very against it, very against it. They are disgracing our flag, not just mine, but everyone who lives in the United States,” the vet said.
