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When the regular season begins (and hopefully it will), the head coach of The Washington Football Team will be performing for The National Anthem. But Ron Rivera will not question the players’ decision to use the anthem as a platform for protest.
“Well the truth of the matter is again, let’s get back to our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, the amendment,” Rivera recently told TheAthletic.com. “Let’s go back to the oath of office to serve and protect. Part of the Constitution is the First Amendment. There are many people out there who support the Second Amendment vehemently. Well, if you vehemently support the Second Amendment, why would you not support the first, which is freedom of expression, freedom of expression? And that’s all it is. That is an extension of one of our inalienable rights, one of our God-given rights, one of the things written in the Constitution. So again, at least we applaud that. Let’s celebrate that too. “
Rivera said he will remain standing because his father served in the military, his brother was the first to respond, and his wife’s family has a history of military service.
“My father had brothers who served in World War II,” added Rivera. “So for me, being vigilant is what I’m going to do. This is how I will honor them. I could kneel during the coin toss because I support Black Lives Matter. I support movement to help correct surveillance. But at the same time, I think everyone should celebrate what the United States Constitution gives us the right to do as Americans. That is what everyone must understand. We have to overcome all these other things and stop making this a political struggle. There is nothing political in the Constitution. It is clear that the rules of the Supreme Court follow it, follow it and then we are supposed to defend it ”
As the pandemic continues to consume much of soccer’s focus, anthem-related problems will become center and center if / when games are played. Given the uncertainty created by COVID-19, criticism and controversy over non-anthem players should be considered a proverbial good problem, because it will mean games are being played.
