Our American flag flies as a symbol of freedom, liberty and human rights. Millions of people have fought for that flag and everything it stands for. People lost their lives so we could live free ones. That flag is here to remind every one of us that we live in a free country and we are entitled to our rights.

One of those rights that every United States citizen has is the right to free speech. It is in the U.S. Constitution. Many members of the NFL have been kneeling or linking arms during the playing or singing of the national anthem before their games and being harshly judged for it. Saying that someone cannot peacefully protest is taking away their First Amendment rights, and that is disrespecting the flag and the people who fought for us to have individual freedom; therefore, the NFL should not fire people for protesting.

The First Amendment of the Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech…,” but our president, Donald J. Trump, believes that people protesting during the national anthem should be fired from their jobs. At a press conference, Trump said, “wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners when somebody disrespects our flag, to say “get this son of a b- off the field right now. Out, he’s fired. He’s fired!”

Firing someone for the use of their own First Amendment right is disrespecting our flag and our country in and of itself, because the First Amendment of our own Constitution, which is the base of our entire country, protects our freedom to say whatever we want. We have the freedom to be unique and express ourselves and, without that, we would be a country of clones. We need to keep the Constitution living, because it keeps our country alive.

Not only does the First Amendment protect the right to free speech, but it protects our right to peacefully protest against the things we’re angry about. The First Amendment continues on from free speech, to guarantee the right to “petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

The right to petition the government for redress of grievances is the right to make a complaint to, or seek the assistance of, one’s government, without fear of punishment or reprisals. Former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick said, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people, and people of color.” Kaepernick later left the San Francisco 49ers. The NFL game operations manual states, “The national anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the national anthem. During the national anthem, players on the field and bench area SHOULD stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking.”

As you can see, it says that the national anthem must be played, but it says nowhere that players MUST stand. Players are advised to stand, but our Constitution doesn’t advise us of our right to protest. It guarantees it. Some people might think that kneeling is protesting our flag, but when Rosa Parks sat in the front of the bus, she wasn’t protesting the bus, she was fighting for something she believed in, and this is what these players are doing.

It is not being disrespectful, it is using the rights that we were given and always have. Police brutality and racism are serious issues in the United States right now, and they have to be fixed. We have to keep the Constitution alive, and we cannot take away certain people’s rights. People say that discrimination is dead, but it is far from it.

We need to take action. It is not OK that people are being oppressed and being criticized for protesting that. There are a lot of things you can do to take action. You can: watch NFL teams on TV to give them more ratings, especially teams protesting, talk to your family members to inform them about the situation, don’t just let racism slide. Some long-term things you can do: Vote in every election for people who support rights and reach out to family and friends to vote.

Please take action. It is not OK that people are constantly being discriminated against for using their voice. The voice they are allowed to have. A true American will protect the Constitution. Be a true American.

Georgia Craven is a student at Souhegan High School and a resident of Mont Vernon.

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