17 Powerful Tweets About Protesting the National Anthem on 9/11

Yesterday was an emotional day for many people, both for those who lost loved ones in 9/11 and also those affected because of 9/11. It seemed that yesterday, more than ever, people conflated one's participation in the National Anthem to one's feelings about American lives. This is more than a bit ironic, considering that the protest of the National Anthem is specifically for American lives via #BlackLivesMatter.

The commentary on Twitter was both parts insightful and inspiring, as well as condemning and hateful. People praise America for its freedom, as well as its soldiers who fight for it, but fume at said freedom when it's used to fight for lives they don't care about. It's sad, really, and completely antithetical.

Take a minute to read and share some of the tweets below. Whether good or bad, both paint a clear picture of what our country looks like right now.

\u201cWoodrow Wilson football players and coaches kneel for national anthem (VIDEO) https://t.co/O73vVNbmOI\u201d
— Johnetta Elzie (@Johnetta Elzie) 1473696433

\u201c15 times athletes joined Colin Kaepernick's national anthem protest https://t.co/MyGgwsuS7E\u201d
— Blavity News (@Blavity News) 1473693306

\u201cRich white woman tells black people it's okay to protest only when she says so: https://t.co/VAI83NXSw8\u201d
— philip lewis (@philip lewis) 1473692300

\u201cUtah cop sits out national anthem after families asked to salute the Confederate flag https://t.co/v6f0MMeZ7X\u201d
— Raw Story (@Raw Story) 1473691815

\u201cIn the 'land of the free,' are you free to sit out the national anthem? https://t.co/swcRsgXHd5\u201d
— Los Angeles Times (@Los Angeles Times) 1473680419

— (@)

\u201cIf Black people were treated like "Americans" we wouldn't have to protest the national anthem in the first place. https://t.co/l0pnIEuePq\u201d
— Abbas (@Abbas) 1473643984

\u201cAre you standing at home right now as this lady sings the National Anthem, or sitting on your couch?\u201d
— L E F T, PhD \u26ab\ufe0f (@L E F T, PhD \u26ab\ufe0f) 1473640342

Fans who complain about athletes kneeling during the national anthem are the same ones booing & heckling when a video of Obama comes on. Ok.
— Rawan (@rawan) September 12, 2016

\u201cSitting down for the national anthem is the most mild, non-invasive form of protest. Just be honest u don't like what the protest is about.\u201d
— Rachel Fisher (@Rachel Fisher) 1473638596

\u201cPeople who say nothing about, say, the death of Tamir Rice but can't wait to condemn protests of the national anthem are so precious.\u201d
— Joel D. Anderson (@Joel D. Anderson) 1473638219

\u201cThree women volleyball players at WVU Tech kneeled for the national anthem https://t.co/dH2yCXUJWp\u201d
— Mic (@Mic) 1473618961

\u201cTHE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND THE AMERICAN FLAG HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH 9/11 SO STOP TRYING TO GUILT TRIP BLACK ATHLETES TO STAND.\u201d
— hot babie hippo\u2077 is back\ud83e\udef0\ud83c\udffe (@hot babie hippo\u2077 is back\ud83e\udef0\ud83c\udffe) 1473615975

And reminders why these protests are needed in the first place.

\u201cHS football player suspended for one game for protesting during national anthem.\nSMH. https://t.co/AA8OGRkTMa\u201d
— Imraan Siddiqi (@Imraan Siddiqi) 1473656057

\u201cAlabama HS football announcer: 'You should be shot at for not standing for national anthem' https://t.co/WJBQ9YEywY\u201d
— The Root (@The Root) 1473687602

And blissful ignorance from white celebrities who are far from activists...

\u201cToday I will stand united with the Seahawks to #buildAbridge I challenge you to stand and link arms during the national anthem today. #12s\u201d
— Chris Pratt (@Chris Pratt) 1473606556

\u201c.@RobLowe to NFL: Don't Let Players Disrespect the National Anthem on 9/11: https://t.co/ZsDLk3imwb\u201d
— The Hollywood Reporter (@The Hollywood Reporter) 1473605513