By: Allen Bryan
A controversial statement had been made by Professional Quarterback, Drew Brees, from the New Orleans Saints on June 3rd, 2020. Protests have been occurring in every state when Drew Brees took to the media to take a stance against kneeling during the national anthem, something that Colin Kapernick of the 49ers did in a preseason game in 2016. During that time, many did not understand what Kapernick had done, many even saying that he was disrespecting not only the nation and its flag but also the military troops who were fighting for them. Now, the real reason for his actions has come to light after this interview with Brees.
Brees had reiterated his stance, saying that he will, “never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America.” He later told ESPN that he stands with his teammates fighting for racial equality and justice but also with the military, past, and present. This was poorly timed for him due to the ongoing protests against George Floyd’s death. Brees took back the words in an apology on his Instagram on June 4th, 2020, revealing that the real reason for kneeling was to take a stance against police brutality on minorities.
Drew Brees realized his actions and apologized on an Instagram post by saying, “It breaks my heart to know the pain I have caused. 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.”
