There’s been a growing list of NFL players protesting the national anthem this season, and not everyone is happy about it.
Several Miami Dolphins players recently continued a trend started by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, as four Dolphins, led by running back Arian Foster, took a knee during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” to protest racial inequality in America.
The Dolphins plan to protest again before their Week 2 matchup against the Patriots in New England, but if they do, things could get contentious. Per the Miami Herald, local Miami police plans to stop providing escorts for players before home games until the Dolphins stop their protests.
“We’ve asked the deputies and the Broward Sheriff’s Office not to do the details anymore,” Jeffery Bell, the president of the International Union of Police Associations, Local 6020, told the Miami Herald.
“I respect their right to have freedom of speech. However, in certain organizations and certain jobs you give up that right of your freedom of speech (temporarily) while you serve that job or while you play in an NFL game.”
The Dolphins’ home opener comes next week against the Cleveland Browns, and Bell believes the team should hire private security firms to fill the void left by local police. Not everyone is on board with the protest, however, as Miami-Dade Police, which also provides security at Dolphins games, plans to do so next Sunday.
“(We) have contractual obligations with Hard Rock Stadium to provide public safety,” Miami-Dade police said, via the Herald. “The safety of our residents and visitors is our primary concern.”
