Protests against President Trump have hit the House floor, where Democrats have made their opposition known by taking a knee.
On Tuesday morning, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., took a knee on the floor to support professional athletes’ “patriotic” protests.
“Look, taking a knee may have started as a protest about racial inequality, about behavior by some in law enforcement discriminating against others in our country but unarmed people of color being killed simply for the color of their skin. I think today taking a knee is becoming a broader sign of patriotism and respect for our country,” Pocan said.
Pocan then took a knee “for the America that we all aspire it to be.”
Late Monday, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, said on the floor that the president’s remarks were racist.
“There is no basis in the First Amendment that says you cannot kneel on the national anthem or in front of the flag,” Jackson Lee said. “That is racism. You cannot deny it, you cannot run for it.”
Jackson Lee then proceeded to drop to one knee “in honor” of the several NFL players who have been protesting the president’s remarks.
“I kneel in front of the flag and on this floor, I kneel in honor of the First Amendment, I kneel because the flag is a symbol for freedom, I kneel because I am going to stand against racism, I kneel because I will stand with those young men and I’ll stand with our soldiers and I’ll stand with America because I kneel,” Jackson Lee added.
