Under den gångna helgen har debatten kring att knäböja vid nationalsången under NFL-matcher åter blivit ett högaktuellt ämne. Bakgrunden är bekant för flertalet då NFL-spelaren Colin Kaepernick tog ställning mot USA:s historia av rasism och polisbrutalitet genom att aktivt avstå från att stå upp under amerikanska nationalsången. På torsdagen kritiserade Donald Trump detta i ett tal i Alabama, något som under veckoslutet fått en storm av reaktioner. NFL-ligans högst ansvarige Gary Oddell kritiserade Trumps uttalande:
“The NFL and our players are at our best when we help create a sense of unity in our country and our culture…”
“Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities.”
Samtidigt kom även nyheten att NBA-mästaren Stephen Curry och Golden State Warriors nu definitivt avstår att besöka Vita Huset på grund av Trumps presidentskap, detta när inbjudan drogs tillbaka av presidenten själv via Twitter. Beslutet att inte besöka Trump får även stöd av LeBron James som skrev:
U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain’t going! So therefore ain’t no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 23, 2017
Slutligen tog även Skandinavien-aktuella J. Cole till orda via Twitter där han manade till bojkott av NFL. Se hans tweets nedan samt inlägg av Kingsize-skribenten Artin Hojat:
How you make a thread
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
Thanks. Been gone too long twitter i missed too much shit. Never said thank you for the best tour. Thank you. Europe we at your neck soon
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
Also Cardi b I seen your breakfast club interview, loved it. Don’t put all that pressure on your album. You already won. Just drop & repeat
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
Got mad shit I shoulda tweeted over the months (or years?) but didn’t. I’ll do better. Now Ima need a thread 4 this next part. Bare w me
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
God bless every player that finds courage to kneel today. But the real power comes from you deciding to not watch.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
Your eyes translate to advertising money for the League and it’s owners.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
Same ones who speak out against Trump today, are the same ones that denied a qualified man a job because he took a stand against injustice.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
You and me have the power to deny them our attention ($$ to them) until they make a wrong situation right.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
How do they make it right? I know there are people
smarter than me with better answers. But here’s one.— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
Hire 3rd party investigator approved by NFLPA to determine if kap was denied a job unfairly as punishment for his stance. (I know, I know)
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
And compensate the man for his losses if they determine he was.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
Bare with me I’m just a rapper.. now look
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
Every day they stay quiet on this they’re saying that they condone what’s happening to Kap and the message it sends.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
Well, you have a choice on how you respond to that. You can choose to not watch.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
if a boycott doesn’t force them to action, don’t even trip. This is where the real flex happens.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
Black people spend a lot of money with NFL corporate sponsors. White people who don’t fuck with white supremacy spend a lot of money too.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
So, next you turn your attention to these sponsors.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
Pick one of the biggest ones and say, “do you agree with black balling players when they speak out against oppression?”
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
“If not, why are you spending all this money with a League that clearly condones that? … “
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
“You know what, I don’t think I can spend my money with you no more until you fix this.”
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
Repeat this with another company, and another.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
Thats when the magic happens. And sadly, in this capitalistic world we live in, that’s when your voice is heard. When you hurt the pockets.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
I respect whatever you decide to do. Watch or don’t watch, whatever’s in your heart. But I’m not watching til it feel right.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
It was hard during preseason and the first week. But then I was like, wait, is it actually hard?
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
Some of us got grandparents that walked miles to work instead of riding bus, just to show the bus companies that they won’t tolerate racism
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
So when I think about it like that it’s very easy on Sunday to say, “Nope, I’m straight.”
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
This may be the biggest opportunity we have ever been presented to come together and show the world and ourselves our true economic power.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
Thank you Colin for your sacrifice.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017
Ima stop it there. Peace and love to all, let’s give energy to the solutions not the problem. Even if you don’t rock with mine.
— J. Cole (@JColeNC) September 24, 2017