This past Sunday, as week three of football season kicked off, Americans witnessed President Trump’s inane rant against NFL players kneeling during the national anthem backfire spectacularly. Players and owners across teams knelt in solidarity with former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who took a knee last August to protest police brutality and oppression against black Americans. But the display of protest has spread beyond just NFL and MLB players. After Sunday’s games, parents posted photos of their kids kneeling in solidarity in front of the TV. These kids’ participation is a powerful reminder that First Amendment rights can and should be expressed at any age.
Here are some photos parents to Twitter
My 8 yr old daughter gets it. #TakeAKnee #StandWithKap pic.twitter.com/kxUnnQDyFq
— Kate Schatz (@kateschatz) September 24, 2017
My kid took a knee today while the National Anthem played. #TakeTheKnee pic.twitter.com/UJIqvV6AjK
— Ellie Machado (@ellie_machado) September 24, 2017
Photos also popped up of kids across the country taking a knee during their own community football games or during other sports, sometimes with the support of an entire team.
Kids Off The Block kneels with @Kaepernick7 and decided to #TakeTheKnee because we believe our youth are worth it! #TakeAKnee pic.twitter.com/6qbuexLZVT
— Diane Latiker (@dianekob) September 24, 2017
Together we are, together we will.. #TakeaKnee JCSU Volleyball. pic.twitter.com/D4CIC6IN0i
— k. (@kasalei_) September 24, 2017
Even actress Alyssa Milano’s son joined in. Milano directly credited Trump with the unity that has swept the NFL and America after his comments, captioning the photo, “Thank you, @realDonaldTrump for giving me opportunities to teach my children the difference between right and wrong.”
The #takeaknee movement is an extremely potent form of protest one that not only opens up a national dialogue, but also one between parents and children. No matter your thoughts on it, within it lies an important conversation about standing up for your beliefs and why, sometimes, that means kneeling.
