How Obama Green-Lighted the Anthem Protests
From the politicization of police shootings to an international apology tour, our 44th president made it cool to slam America
by Edmund Kozak | 17 Sep 2016 at 9:54 AM
As Obama nears the end of his presidency, more and more black — and even some white — Americans are holding “sit-outs” during the national anthem and pledge of allegiance in a testimony to the divisiveness of his time in office.
On Wednesday, Missouri State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed refused to stand while her colleagues recited the Pledge of Allegiance in the state capitol. Nasheed’s display is the latest in a series of similar acts inspired by NFL player Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand during the national anthem.
