Look who just joined Trump in his assault on First Amendment
Donald Trump continued his sustained tantrum about professional athletes protesting racism in America by kneeling on one knee during the traditional playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” with more morning rage-tweets:
If NFL fans refuse to go to games until players stop disrespecting our Flag & Country, you will see change take place fast. Fire or suspend!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017
…NFL attendance and ratings are WAY DOWN. Boring games yes, but many stay away because they love our country. League should back U.S.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2017
Yesterday, Denver Broncos linebacker Shane Ray posted a thread on Twitter explaining the reason players are choosing to use their First Amendment right to protest social injustice and racial inequality during a period on increasingly inflamed ethnic tensions:
Wrong my grandfather was in the military. Served in the army Ww2. If he could see how the president of the country he fought for https://t.co/GhOj42KrlE
— Shane Ray (@StingRay56) September 23, 2017
Treated his people and people of color he would stand with his fist high or take a knee right along with the others fighting for a voice https://t.co/GhOj42KrlE
— Shane Ray (@StingRay56) September 23, 2017
The heart of America is our military. There are multi cultural people fighting together for us beyond what we see here at home.
— Shane Ray (@StingRay56) September 23, 2017
Those same people will come home and be discriminated against regardless of there military sacrifice. Simply because of the color of their
— Shane Ray (@StingRay56) September 23, 2017
Skin.
— Shane Ray (@StingRay56) September 23, 2017
When I hear the anthem it’s not the words that make me feel like an American. It’s us as people for one moment feeling united standing
— Shane Ray (@StingRay56) September 23, 2017
Together. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize we are kneeling because we need everyone’s focus and eyes so that we can work for
— Shane Ray (@StingRay56) September 23, 2017
A change. We have your attention now. Time to start opening your eyes so that we can change and have all people proudly stand for our
— Shane Ray (@StingRay56) September 23, 2017
Country
— Shane Ray (@StingRay56) September 23, 2017
✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿🇺🇸
— Shane Ray (@StingRay56) September 23, 2017
In the early morning hours, while most of us were asleep:
Around two dozen NFL players knelt while the American national anthem played at Wembley Stadium in defiance of Donald Trump, who suggested players who take a knee during the anthem should be fired.
Among the players who took a knee were Baltimore Ravens linebackers Terrell Suggs and C J Mosley, wide receiver Mike Wallace and safety Lardarius Webb, as well as Jacksonville Jaguars running backs Leonard Fournette and Dante Fowler, defensive tackle Calais Campbell, defensive end Yannick Ngakoue and cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Players on both teams and Jaguars owner Shad Khan, who were not kneeling, remained locked arm-in-arm throughout the national anthem and “God Save The Queen.”
So guess who decided to peddle Trump’s pearl-clutching, racist-coddling “How dare these highly compensated athletes protest during the national anthem?” nonsense this Sunday morning on Chattering Class Tee-Vee? That’s right: Steve Mnuchin, poster boy for privilege!
… says the guy who should have gone jetting to watch the solar eclipse on his own time and money.
Classy as always, Steve!
UPDATE: Via Raw Story, here’s Rep. Ted Lieu’s epic burn of “The Munchkin”:
Dear @stevenmnuchin1: I am beginning to think that in govt, you are stupid as a rock. US Constitution also applies to NFL players. Get it? https://t.co/zy1AOQRfnn
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) September 24, 2017
