1

Running Head: National Anthem Protests

Annotated Bibliography
NFL National Anthem Protests
Juan De Santiago
University of Texas at El Paso
 2
Running Head: National Anthem Protests

Annotated Bibliography: National Anthem Protests in the NFL

Is kneeling during the national anthem disrespectful/un-American?
Breer, A. (2017). NFL Owners Ready To Move Forward from National Anthem Discussions.
Retrieved from https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/10/17/nfl-owners-meeting-national-anthem-
discussion
After all the aftermath that came with the protests during the national anthem many people
thought that owners and the NFL would talk about a policy to ensure that players stand for the
national anthem and many thought it would be discussed during the owners, players, and
commissioner meetings. Many people gathered outside the location of the meeting but to their
surprise the anthem protests were hardly discussed and there would not be a policy implemented.
The players understood that they now had the attention of a lot of people and they wanted to use
that attention to help. They want to turn the protests into progress, they want to help by
working with foundations, helping in their hometown and raising awareness. This article helped
me by showing me that the players did not just protest to follow along or just to respond to
criticism but to help make change. Their plan is to use their fame and the NFL as a platform to
create change.

Havens, E. (2017). The NFL, American flag code, and National Anthem etiquette: What you
need to know. Retrieved from http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2017/09/27/nfl-
american-flag-code-and-national-anthem-etiquette-what-you-need-know/707952001/
According to national anthem etiquette it is not illegal to sit during the national anthem. It is only
stated that people should perform specific conduct but they do not have to. Sitting during the
national anthem is not punishable and you cannot be arrested by not doing it. When the flag is
displayed people in uniform should give a military salute throughout the whole anthem and
people of the armed forces not in uniform and veterans can do so too. Everyone else should stand
at attention, remove head gear and place their right hand over their heart. There are certain things
that is considered disrespectful to the flag and kneeling is not one of them, in fact some things
that many people do are considered disrespectful including carrying the flag flat or horizontally
which is done in many sporting events. These guidelines really helped me see that kneeling
during the national anthem is not illegal or disrespectful and that many other things that we do
are disrespectful to the flag and we are not aware of it. The players are just using the freedoms
given to them.

Lindsay, Rowena. Are national anthem protests hurting the NFL TV ratings? Christian Science
Monitor, 8 Oct. 2016. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,
link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A465929596/OVIC?u=txshracd2603&xid=65710c9d.
Accessed 24 Oct. 2017
 3
Running Head: National Anthem Protests

Lindsay starts off by noting that TV ratings for the NFL have gone down by 11 percent since
Kaepernick began to protest the National anthem she says the NFL has said it is due to the
viewer interest in the election. She goes on to say that the ratings for channels which show NFL
games have gone down, the channels which show the election have gone up. She also says that
the NFL has said that their data shows that the perception of the NFL and the players is up in
2016. This is shown by the sales of Kaepernicks jersey sales since the protests, at first angry
fans burned his jersey but now his jersey is the third highest selling in the league. She finishes
with saying that athletes in other sports are joining in as well as non-professional teams. This
article helped me see what was the initial reaction to the protests and the leagues explanation for
them. Also I was able to see the beginning of the aftermath of the first protests.

Mather, V., Fortin, J., Hoffman, B. (2017). After Trump Blasts N.F.L., Players Kneel and Lock
Arms in Solidarity. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/24/sports/nfl-
trump-anthem-protests.html
After the comments made by President Trump players from around the league took part in
different gestures to show solidarity. Some of the players knelt during the anthem in silent
protests. Some decided to stand and link arms with each other, some of the teams were joined by
their owners. Other teams decided not to come out for the national anthem and remained in their
locker rooms during it. After the gestures president trump spoke again and approved of the
locking arms and standing but not the kneeling. Throughout these gestures fans were divided on
how they felt about it, some fans thought it was okay and some did not like it at call causing boos
towards the players. This article showed me what the players did and how they reacted towards
president Trumps comments. It also showed how this issue was growing bigger than it ever was
before.l

Tatum, S. (2017). Trump: NFL owners should fire players who protest the national anthem.
Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/22/politics/donald-trump-alabama-
nfl/index.html
President Trump was at a rally for Luther Strange, a Alabama Republican Senate candidate on a
Friday night. He went on to criticize players in the NFL who take a knee during the national
anthem. He said that team owners should fire players who take a knee during the playing of the
national anthem. Trump also suggested that fans should leave the stadium when players knee to
change things. He then finished by calling them a profanity, and saying they should be fired.
This article helped me by showing me some of the aftermath of more players kneeling during the
national anthem. This showed that this was a bigger issue than most people thought and that it
was about to turn even bigger.
 4
Running Head: National Anthem Protests

Wyche, S. (2016). Colin Kaepernick explains why he sat during national anthem. Retrieved
from http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000691077/article/colin-kaepernick-
explains-why-he-sat-during-national-anthem
Wyches main focus was to explain why pro football athlete Colin Kaepernick refused to stand
during the national anthem and instead decided to sit. He tells that Kaepernick decided to do this
as a civil rights movement in protest of unfair and wrong treatment of African Americans as well
as other minorities. He then goes on to say that his head coach, Chip Kelly, expressed that it is
his right as a citizen. The NFL also released a statement saying that they encourage their
players to stand but they are not required to do so. He also went on to say that Kaepernick is
aware that his actions will not be popular with some people and that he is aware of the backlash
he may receive. This article helps he understand where and who started these protests. It also
helped me understand the reasoning behind protesting.

ESPN (2017). QB Colin Kaepernick files grievance for collusion against NFL owners. Retrieved
from http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21035352/colin-kaepernick-files-grievance-nfl-
owners-collusion
Ever since the end of the 2016-2017 season Colin Kaepernick has not been signed to an NFL
team, this has led to many people and players saying he is being blackballed. This means no one
wants to employ him because of the attention he brings due to his protests and leadership in civil
rights movements. Kaepernick has filed a grievance against the NFL and owners because he
feels he is being treated unfairly and that they are depriving him of employment. Since the
beginning of the new football season many other quarterbacks have been signed some of which
many people would argue are not as good as Colin Kaepernick. This article helped me see to
what point it has gotten to for Colin Kapernick. He used his freedom of speech and protest, and
he stood for what he believed for and now he has no job and no team will give him a chance.