Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt says when and if his teammates kneel during the national anthem before games this year, he won’t be joining them.
“ … I’m not kneeling for the flag and screw anybody who have a problem with that,” Tuitt tweeted on Monday. “My grandmother was a immigrant from the Carribean and age [sic] worked her ass off to bring 20 people over the right way. She had no money and educated herself to be a nurse. She living good now.”
In a separate Twitter post, sent just minutes earlier, Tuitt said, “I think alot of Athletes need to stop worrying about the public and people who tell them what to do with their money and educated themselves.”
Also I’m not kneeling for the flag and screw anybody who have a problem with that. My grandmother was a immigrant from the Carribean and age worked her ass off to bring 20 people over the right way. She had no money and educated herself to be a nurse. She living good now.
— stephon tuitt (@DOCnation_7) July 27, 2020
A national conversation about kneeling during the national anthem before professional sports games was renewed by the death of George Floyd on May 25.
Dozens of NFL players have said they plan to kneel before games this year, a gesture they say is meant to protest the mistreatment of minorities by law enforcement and systemic racism in America.
Earlier this year, Saints quarterback Drew Brees drew criticism from teammates and members of the media after he said he did not support kneeling protests.
“I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country,” Brees initially said. “Let me just tell you what I see or what I feel when the national anthem is played, and when I look at the flag of the United States. I envision my two grandfathers, who fought for this country during World War II, one in the Army and one in the Marine Corp. Both risking their lives to protect our country and to try to make our country and this world a better place.”
The superstar quarterback later apologized and said he supports the demonstrations.
“In an attempt to talk about respect, unity, and solidarity centered around the American flag and the national anthem, I made comments that were insensitive and completely missed the mark on the issues we are facing right now as a country,” he said.
President Trump has renewed his attacks on professional athletes who have used their platform to push what he says is an inappropriate and political message.
“Any time I witness a player kneeling during the National Anthem, a sign of great disrespect for our Country and our Flag, the game is over for me!” Trump tweeted last week.
When the kneeling protests were first started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the NFL disavowed the displays and threatened to discipline players for participating.
Since Floyd’s death and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement in America, league Commissioner Roger Goodell has taken a softer stance on the issue.
“We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of Black People. We, the NFL, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest,” the league said in a tweet on June 5. “We, the NFL, believe Black Lives Matter.”
The NFL season is slated to kick off the second weekend in September.
