Stand or kneel? The very public social injustices in the United States of recent months have reignited that very question for players on the sidelines of professional sports teams of all leagues across the country. The objective of the decision to kneel for the national anthem isn’t to protest the armed forces or the American flag, but rather to bring further awareness to the abuses of power and social injustices brought against Black communities across the country. Yet that message has been twisted and lost among many political commentators — making it challenging to get the right message across.
But there will be no kneeling for the Miami Dolphins on the sidelines this season — because the Miami Dolphins are going to be staying in the locker room for the national anthem this season. The news has just been revealed in a powerful video of Dolphins players discussing the dilemmas they’re faced with when making the decision to kneel or not while also hoping to shed further light on the additional changes that are needed to help change the landscape of social inequality.
BREAKING NEWS: The@MiamiDolphins players will stay inside for both national anthems. They express their discontentment with what they call “fluff and empty gestures” by the @NFL pic.twitter.com/ghUktHhPt9
— Jay Williams (@RealJayWilliams) September 10, 2020
Miami’s video refers to “fluff and empty gestures” from the NFL as well, indicating that more prominent action is needed to facilities the necessary changes to advance equality for all. Prominent Dolphins figures included in the video team captains Bobby McCain, Kyle Van Noy, Ted Karras and Elandon Roberts plus young talents such as Mike Gesicki and Christian Wilkins — plus head coach Brian Flores, who offers a heavy hitting final line.
“Before the media starts wondering and guessing, they just answered all your questions. We’ll just stay inside,” Flores closes.