For years there has been a national debate about NFL players being allowed to peacefully protest during games. But in the wake of protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a new poll has found that most Americans now see the value in players following in the steps of Colin Kaepernick.
READ MORE: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will not reveal team’s 2020 national anthem policy
Thursday, The Washington Post released that findings of a new poll which found that most Americans and the lion’s share of football fans, now feel, “it is acceptable for professional athletes to kneel during the national anthem, and an even larger percentage say athletes should use their platforms to tackle social issues.”
Although conservative pundits and politicians continue to wax poetic about how athletes need to “stick to sports,” they are now seemingly a vocal minority with a whopping 62% of Americans now conceding that it does make sense for professional athletes to use their platforms to bring awareness to national issues.
“Looking forward to live sports, but any time I witness a player kneeling during the National Anthem, a sign of great disrespect for our Country and our Flag, the game is over for me!” President Trump tweeted in July in a series of posts about the subject.
But overall, 8 in 10 Black Americans and 7 in 10 adults under age 50 disagree with the president and are all for the intersection of professional sports and social advocacy.
READ MORE: Trump threatens to send law enforcement to polling places on Election Day
And in a huge shift from just a few NFL seasons ago, 59% now believe that kneeling during the national anthem is an appropriate form of peaceful protest against racial inequality, with 64% also believing athletes should be empowered to express their views on national issues in general.
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!