Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem. (ESPN/Twitter)
#BoycottNFL became a top trending topic on Twitter today after white users became fed up with protests of the “Star Spangled Banner.” San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick spurred the movement in late August. Since then, many other athletes joined in.
And white Twitter is not having it.
@USAsHero dismissed NFL stars like Kaepernick and Brandon Marshall of the Broncos as “spoiled, entitled babies.”
https://twitter.com/USAsHero/status/774261898967670784
Jeanna Eckert called for a boycott over two weeks ago to draw attention to Kaepernick’s “right to be stupid.”
https://twitter.com/JeannaEckert/status/770623011703525377?
Jedidiah Williams also used the 49ers player as his reason for opposing the league. Williams called Kaepernick a “spoiled cry baby” who “doesn’t know jack squat about…sacrifice.”
https://twitter.com/Jedidiahman/status/774280415888576512
PJG decided he would avoid the NFL “if more losers continue to disrespect our flag.”
https://twitter.com/redarmy67/status/774222502260121600
William Paxton responded to former congressman Joe Walsh’s criticism of the players. Paxton stated “the rich and privileged” were “disrespecting our country and propagating lies.”
https://twitter.com/Truthseer1961/status/774224382659035136
@HiCaliberLilGal responded to Tariq Nasheed’s argument against an NFL fan strike. She said the league is “paying a Black guy millions for mediocre athletic performance.”
https://twitter.com/HiCaliberLilGal/status/774276167037652992
Nasheed shot back at his critic by alluding to Nazi Germany’s history with Jewish athletes before the Holocaust.
the Nazi's paid Jewish athletes a lot of money too, right before they sent them to Auschwitz
— Tariq Nasheed 🇺🇸 (@tariqnasheed) September 9, 2016
And more Black Twitter users pointed out the silliness and hypocrisy of the hashtag.
L. Darcel explained there was no boycott when rape accusations about Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger emerged in 2008 and 2010. Nor did a boycott occur when former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice knocked out his then-fiancé in an elevator.
Y'all didn't #boycottNFL when Ben raped those women or Ray rice beat his girlfriend. But y'all boycotting over a flag. Go play in traffic
— L.Darcel (@BelleUnplugged) September 9, 2016
Darryn M. Briggs pointed out player concussions as an un-boycotted issue.
So let me get this straight – you don't want to #boycottNFL over
-concussions
-domestic violence
-rule inequitybut over peaceful protest?
— Darryn M. Briggs (@darryn_briggs) September 9, 2016
Chris P. used a humorous GIF of James Harden to show his reaction over the uproar.
When you wake up and see #boycottNFL as a trending topic! Over a flag, not a unarmed man killed by a cop, a flag!!!! pic.twitter.com/TMEBqHiJoq
— Couch Coach The Commander (@CouchCoachP) September 9, 2016
BYHISGRACE8 provided a quote from late political singer Nina Simone for her response.
The user proclaimed anyone who wants to boycott the NFL believes its players have “no right to think for themselves.”
Those who want to #boycottNFL believe Players do not have constitutional rights….no right to think for themselves. pic.twitter.com/IU0idkQ1j7
— StolenAfrican (@BYHISGRACE64) September 9, 2016
But at least one Black person thought an African-American boycott of the league could force change.
We african Americans have so much control over the entertainment industry. We have to take back our power! Lets assert ourselves #boycottNFL
— Elae Weekes (@Elaeweekes) September 9, 2016
