Jennifer Lambe, an associate professor of communication at the University of Delaware, can speak on the topic of kneeling – either by police officers who have joined protestors or players who might do so during the next NFL season.
Lambe made the following points and can discuss them further:
- The NFL's recent statement in which they admitted they were wrong about their response to players kneeling was influenced by player activism – even though the league did not specifically apologize to Colin Kaepernick.
- The parallel between the protests started by Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem to protest racialized police brutality and George Floyd's killer kneeling on his neck adds more emotion to the situation.
- Police officers kneeling alongside protestors has been a welcome start to many, signifying hope that a new way of communicating about police brutality is possible.
- It is interesting to note that Kaepernick started his protests by sitting during the national anthem, but after discussion with a veteran who was offended by his actions he switched to kneeling because it was more respectful.
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