The NFL caved to pressure from President Donald Trump and banned sideline protests by players against police brutality -- and social media users were outraged.
League officials adopted a new policy Wednesday requiring all league and team personnel on the field to remain standing during the playing of the national anthem, although they are no longer required to remain on the field at that time.
The new policy also outlines fines and other disciplinary action against teams whose personnel fail to comply, and lets team set their own rules regarding players who refuse to stand.
Trump personally attacked former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick last year during a political rally, and he kept up his rants against protesting players on Twitter -- where other users reacted to the NFL policy.
Forced patriotism is the best kind! https://t.co/S8v0VNpiGz— Yes, You're Racist (@Yes, You're Racist) 1527093468.0
yeah, sure, the NFL is run by a bunch of elitist old bozos but at least the product on the field *ruffles through… https://t.co/e0AbsYYy2Q— evan romano is 6 feet away (@evan romano is 6 feet away) 1527095884.0
The NFL is 80% black. Imagine if they all sat out a Sunday or two...— Ethereal bisexual who wears mostly black (@Ethereal bisexual who wears mostly black) 1527095756.0
The 32 NFL owners, and the members of the league office, are preposterous turds. I hope this league collapses in on… https://t.co/152mwD5Nx0— Ken Tremendous (@Ken Tremendous) 1527093415.0
I’m done with the @NFL.— Karen Attiah (@Karen Attiah) 1527095508.0
The NFL making players (and lets face it, it’s about black players) stand for the anthem is not only appeasing raci… https://t.co/aN9ZA3s5pa— Aaron T. Starks 🌊 (@Aaron T. Starks 🌊) 1527094946.0
The @NFL is a case study of how orgs led exclusively by white men can do so much harm to its employees and product,… https://t.co/JzKdqg0KHq— Michael McBride (@Michael McBride) 1527096013.0
One interesting note. Since Trump, serving as President, put pressure on the NFL to stop anthem protests, the NFLP… https://t.co/mtbp9WcM7k— Billy McInerney (@Billy McInerney) 1527095441.0
I am embarrassed, as a pro football fan, by the #NFL's new policy. The freedom to peacefully protest is a core Amer… https://t.co/IGire83tJg— Judandrew Maccabloom (@Judandrew Maccabloom) 1527095225.0
Still waiting for NFL to fine teams whose players commit domestic abuse. https://t.co/JDucU2AhzQ— amy walter (@amy walter) 1527094251.0
I'm a lifelong NFL fan and proud military veteran, and I will not watch one more goddamn game until this ban on kne… https://t.co/nPnxXBrfd0— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈) 1527094935.0
sports league valued at $63B, 90% of whose players are black, caves to the least-popular first-term president in American history. #NFL— Eric Boehlert (@Eric Boehlert) 1527095869.0
Me, trying to find any NFL owners with common sense https://t.co/tD1mp9Bql6— Jemele Hill (@Jemele Hill) 1527090718.0
I wonder what happens if the NFL players figure out a way to protest while standing up. https://t.co/tXLZisJ5qO— Neuro Polarbear (@Neuro Polarbear) 1527095335.0
