Ever since U.S President Donald Trump ascended to the presidency, we cannot deny the rift between the White and Black Americans worsening. Even more so, when President Trump vocally expressed repeated denouncing of the Muslim, Hispanic, and other nationalities living in the United States, that didn’t belong to “White Superiority” in nature. With the controversial travel bans issued, his cracking down of the immigrants, up to banning transgender people to enter military service, Americans have been struggling to fight for freedom and equality like never before. And now, it seems President Trump was not done yet. Recently, he set the Internet world abuzz again with his controversial comments about NFL teams and even NBA superstars Stephen Curry and Lebron James. Let us find out how this whole race and social injustice fiasco had started!
President Trump Cries Foul over NFL and NBA for their Team Members disrespecting the Country
Roger Goodell of NFL just put out a statement trying to justify the total disrespect certain players show to our country.Tell them to stand!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
In his speech from last Friday and a series of tweets he published over the weekends, President Trump expressed his dismay and repulsion about NFL and two NBA superstars about disrespecting the United States. He first urged the NFL (National Football League) to fire their athletes and players who do not stand properly during the national anthem. He happened to watch a televised broadcast on one of NFL games where several athletes and players were just sitting or kneeling instead of standing properly before the national anthem. For him, such prudence was inexcusable and proper sanctions should be implemented to discipline these athletes. He also accused part-owner Roger Goodell of disrespecting the country directly by showing his support to those football players who protest the anthem.
San Francisco Quarterback Colin Kaepernick Knelt During National Anthem in one of his Atlanta Games Last Year
One may think that it was indeed distasteful to act that way against honoring the national anthem, but it seems these athletes and players have many reasons for doing so. It seems that they’re doing this to show their protests of police brutality against the Black Americans and other forms of social injustice too. Like in the case of Colin Kaepernick, who knelt during a game in Atlanta last year, although the NFL had reminded its athletes to never take part in any political demonstration during the games in order to avoid spurring on race debates like this. Later on, the NFL had released a statement in response to the President’s criticisms.
New NFL statement pic.twitter.com/XHPgVvPPfH
— Brian McCarthy (@NFLprguy) September 23, 2017
You can also see the tweets from several football players below:
Does anyone tell trump to stick to politics, like they tell us to stick to sports? Smh.
— Eric Ebron (@Ebron85) September 23, 2017
Continue to use your voices and your platforms for racial equality and to stop injustices in our communities. This is bigger than us!!! ✊?
— Michael Thomas (@Michael31Thomas) September 23, 2017
President Trump Also lashed Out About NBA Invitation
It seems as President Trump was not done with his race tweets yet. Following his event in Huntsville, Ala, last Friday, he proceeded on Twitter about how the Golden State Warriors had declined his invitation to visit the White House. He lamented about how getting an invitation to the White House is a great honor for every American to have, only to turn it down just because their star player, NBA MVP Player Stephen Curry, was a vocal critic of him. You can read his Tweet below:
Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
Unfortunately, this latest Tweet of the President seem to reach the point of no return. Since this time, his NBA colleague and superstar Lebron James defended Curry against the President and he even lamented him to “burn”.
U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain't going! So therefore ain't no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 23, 2017
He also explained his Tweet further (which obviously reached about millions of people worldwide, thanks to his followers) on a video he posted on his Instagram profile:
In the video, he explained how the President is now using the Sports (in which has a global influence) to divide the Americans further. He also noted how the President should be wary of his statements not just because he’s a powerful figure, but also because children, the young generation tends to look up to the POTUS (President of the United States) for their guidance and setting a role model for them. These negative perceptions and racist comments he made, can split the country further and hatred would only propagate.
“He doesn’t understand the power that he has for being the leader of this beautiful country,” James said. “He doesn’t understand how many kids, no matter the race, look up to the president of the United States for guidance, for leadership, for words of encouragement. He doesn’t understand that, and that’s what makes me more sick than anything.”
Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors also released a statement in response to the President’s Tweet.
Statement from the Golden State Warriors: pic.twitter.com/6kk6ofdu9X
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) September 23, 2017
They also confirmed mid-afternoon through a spokesman for the University of North Carolina that the team had to decline the President’s invitation, not because of Stephen Curry’s political stance, or because of the heated back-and-forth Tweets between the President and several superstar athletes, but because of conflict schedule.
What’s your stance on the issue? Let us know in the comments below…
