Thread by @midUSAmom

#TakeAKnee is
Against brutality directed toward minorities
Against divisiveness (for a show of unity)
Supports Amendment 1 of U.S. Constitution
Supports solidarity (power/credibility to make changes)
It's not done against flag or anthem
It's not done against our military/veterans

#TakeAKnee is
For liberty & justice for all
For basic human rights
For civility & civil rights
Against "ugliness" that exists in our society

Whoever doesn't understand this, just doesn't want to.

#IStandWithKaepernick
#IStandWithEugeneGu

#TakeAKnee

And, I wonder…

How many people partake in the flag/anthem ritual while watching at home/bar?
How many people partake in it while grabbing food and/or drinks at the stadiums?

And.... NFL players only started appearing on field for the national anthem in 2009, they instead generally remained in the locker rooms. A researcher at ESPN said the switch happened "because it was seen as a *marketing strategy* to make the athletes look more patriotic."

Also, verses Francis Scott Key wrote were a Union troops anthem in Civil War, along with “Hail Columbia” and “Yankee Doodle.” Before Dec 1860, American flag served as military ensign & a marker for American territory. Add, the anthem was named "Defence of Fort M'Henry"

American flag became a more profound symbol after 9/11/2001; it became a symbol of Americanism/our *collective identity*. In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, ‘Americanism is a question of spirit, conviction, and purpose, not of creed or birthplace. It is about Freedoms. FREEDOMS

#IStandWithKaepernick #IStandWithEugeneGu

Trump et al., want @NFL to either back Trump or deal with his infantile anger. By #NFL supporting and backing players, they are backing America's freedom, spirit, conviction & purpose #TakeAKnee

In addition, Trump, in the office of presidency, shouldn’t demand, tweet, proclaim, or otherwise, anything that would be influencing a private entity’s employment: 18 U.S. Code § 227 law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18… <end>

#IStandWithKaepernick #IStandWithEugeneGu