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NFL players protest racial inequality

Ever since Colin Kaepernick first took a knee on the field, pro sports arenas have become a battleground for America’s culture war.

Contributors: Vox Staff

It began with Colin Kaepernick two years ago. In a game against the Houstan Texans on August 14, 2016, the then-backup San Francisco 49ers quarterback sat during the national anthem.

No one noticed at first, but the backlash quickly followed. And controversy over NFL players’ decision to protest against racial inequality by kneeling during the national anthem before games has since enmeshed the country’s most popular sports league in a political and cultural firestorm. Though Kaepernick himself hasn’t played a down of professional football since January 1, 2017, hundreds of other NFL players have continued to protest during the anthem in various ways — earning the criticism of President Trump, among others.

46 Total Updates Since
Aug 27, 2016, 1:54pm EDT

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February 15, 2019
Colin Kaepernick’s collusion grievance against the NFL, explained

By P.R. Lockhart

Kaepernick’s lawyer and the NFL announced a confidential settlement in the collusion case on Friday.
September 14, 2018
What one pastor’s anti-Nike protest says about religion and nationalism in America

By Tara Isabella Burton@NotoriousTIB

An Alabama pastor cut up his Nike gear at the pulpit.
September 7, 2018
Nike, Colin Kaepernick, and the history of “commodity activism”

By Sarah Banet-Weiser

Nike’s Kaepernick ad continues — and tweaks — the tradition of brands commodifying politics.
September 4, 2018
How Nike’s Colin Kaepernick ad explains branding in the Trump era

By Rebecca Jennings@rebexxxxa

Rule No. 1: You have to actually say something.
September 4, 2018
2 years of NFL protests, explained

By Jane Coaston

Why a protest against racial injustice became a political hot potato.
August 20, 2018
Trump has repeatedly attacked the NFL. That hasn’t stopped players from protesting.

By P.R. Lockhart

Several players remained off field, knelt, or raised fists as the national anthem played during the NFL’s second week.
August 17, 2018
ESPN will not broadcast the national anthem before NFL games this season

By Jane Coaston

The move was announced at the network’s football media day.
August 10, 2018
Trump is still tweeting about the NFL national anthem protests

By German Lopez@germanrlopez

After a year of tweeting about the NFL, he still acts like he doesn’t know what the national anthem protests are about.
July 20, 2018
The Miami Dolphins acted on the NFL’s anthem policy. The league was unprepared for the backlash.

By P.R. Lockhart

The NFL is putting its anthem policy on hold after leaked documents prompt criticism.
June 15, 2018
Trump said he doesn’t think NFL players are protesting “a real issue”

By P.R. Lockhart

NFL players are protesting systemic racism. Trump wants to solve it with pardons.
June 5, 2018
Trump’s Philadelphia Eagles comments prove he’ll fight the culture war no matter what

By P.R. Lockhart

The NFL gave the president what he wanted. He’s still fighting them.
May 24, 2018
Trump praises NFL anthem rule, says kneeling players “maybe shouldn’t be in the country”

By P.R. Lockhart

"You have to stand proudly for the national anthem or you shouldn’t be playing," Trump said in a recent interview.
May 23, 2018
NFL’s new policy: players who kneel during the national anthem may face a fine

By P.R. Lockhart

Players are now required to "stand and show respect" during the anthem.
April 25, 2018
What NFL leaders said behind closed doors about national anthem protests and Trump

By German Lopez@germanrlopez

"Ask your compadres, fellas, stop that other business," Houston Texans owner Bob McNair said in a recording unveiled by the New York Times.
February 4, 2018
Trump’s reaction to the NFL protests shows how he fights the culture war

By P.R. Lockhart

As black athletes took a knee, Trump seized an opportunity to weaponize patriotism.
October 15, 2017
Benching NFL players for protesting during the anthem would be illegal

By Benjamin Sachs

The owner of the Dallas Cowboys has sworn to do so.
October 9, 2017
Trump picks cultural fights to distract Americans from his policies and their results

By Ezra Klein@ezraklein

Trump wants America continually distracted from the job he’s doing.
October 8, 2017
Trump reignites NFL protest controversy by ordering Mike Pence to leave a Colts game

By Dylan Matthews

The protests were dying down. Not anymore.
September 28, 2017
The NFL has officially whitewashed Colin Kaepernick’s protest

By Louis Moore

The co-opting of protests against racism has a storied history in our country.
September 26, 2017
How America’s pro sports arenas became a battleground for Trump’s culture war

By Michelle Garcia

The personal and the political collide for black NFL players.
September 25, 2017
Can the NFL fire players for kneeling during the anthem? 9 Legal experts say yes.

By Sean Illing@seanilling

It might be wrong and dangerous, but it’s not unconstitutional.
September 25, 2017
Trump’s tweets about the NFL protests miss the point entirely

By German Lopez@germanrlopez

Player protests are not about disrespecting the flag or the national anthem.
September 25, 2017
Donald Trump versus the NFL, explained

By Matthew Yglesias@mattyglesias

A master of race baiting overreaches.
September 25, 2017
It’s actually very strange for sports games to begin with the national anthem

By Zack Beauchamp@zackbeauchamp

A key point that Trump doesn’t grasp.
September 25, 2017
As a black veteran, I always stand for the flag. But I understand why some NFL players don't.

By Theodore R. Johnson

They kneel because of the things I do not salute. This does not put us at odds.

NFL players protest racial inequality

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