Kneeling during the national anthem is a form of peaceful protest that began in August 2016 when some American athletes protested against perceived injustices in the United States by kneeling on one knee while the U.S. national anthem is played. The protest gained more attention in 2017 when many players protested against President Donald Trumps criticisms of those involved in the protest, and some against Trumps policies during his time in office. The intended meaning of the anthem is widely divided among the people of the United States. Some believe it salutes military and police officers who have died on duty, while for others, it honors the United States generally. Kneeling is a demonstration of reverence, submissiveness, and deference, in contrast with the interpretation that kneeling is offensive to those who are honored by the anthem.
Kneeling during the national anthem is a legal form of peaceful protest, which is a First Amendment right. When one believes the United States is not living up to its ideals of freedom, liberty, and justice for all, kneeling during the national anthem is appropriate and justified. It shows disrespect for the flag and members of the armed forces, according to some people. However, others argue that kneeling during the national anthem is an ineffective and counterproductive way to promote a cause and angers many, sowing division in the country.
Taking a knee during the national anthem is also a symbolic gesture against racism whereby an individual kneels upon one knee in place of standing to attention for an anthem or other such occasion. It was first adopted by Colin Kaepernick and his 49ers teammate Eric Reid in 2016 during a football game to call attention to the issues of racial inequality and police brutality. The gesture has since been adopted by sports players in countries around the world, including association football in the United Kingdom, in solidarity with Kaepernicks protest against racism, and has been seen worldwide in non-sporting contexts such as the Black Lives Matter protests.
