Recently much attention has been brought to professional sports players for kneeing for the national anthem, especially those in the NFL. Kneeing for the national anthem started last year when quarterback Colin Kaepernick, knelt during the national anthem. So many people were furious at this, saying he was disrespecting the flag and those who fight for our country. But those weren’t the reasons as to why he knelt, the reasons  he did was         because of all the police brutality towards black people going on, systemic oppression against people of color  and the criminal justice system. Those who say that Kaepernick was disrespecting the flag may be disrespecting the flag themselves . Here are many ways you are disrespecting the flag:

• US Flag Code: Chapter 10.176D

“The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bending or drapery.”

• US Flag Code: Chapter 10.176C

“The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.”

• US Flag Code Chapter: 10,176I

“The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever.”

• US Flag Code Chapter 10.176I (pt. @)

“It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions her handkerchiefs and the like…”

• US Flag Code Chapter 10.1761 (pt. 3)

“… or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard.”

And this list keeps going on, on what you should not do with the flag but what’s not on there is that you have to stand for the national anthem. It only says that should. People who are kneeing or sitting down during the national are only trying to spread awareness on what’s going on, just like how many people wear pink to spread awareness for breast cancer. It has nothing to do with disrespecting our flag or our troops. They fight for us to have freedom, such as having the freedom to stand up or not.

Pictures from: Google.come/images

Flag Code information from: Twitter.com/koopa_kinte