NFL Players Association Hits Back at Pence

[DonViejo]

Source: The Daily Beast



The NFL Players Association backed its athletes’ right to protest during the national anthem after Vice President Mike Pence on Sunday walked out of a game over players taking a knee. The group called it “a source of enormous” pride to have its athletes using “their platform to peacefully raise awareness to issues that deserve attention” in a statement Sunday evening. “We should not stifle these discussions and cannot allow our rights to become subservient to the very opinions our Constitution protects.” President Trump had earlier said he was “proud” of Pence for walking out of the Colts game against the 49ers, claiming the kneeling protesters were “disrespecting our country.” The walkout, which appeared to have been pre-planned, was dismissed as a “PR stunt” by Eric Reid, the 49ers safety who kneeled alongside former quarterback Colin Kaepernick to protest police brutality and racism last year. “This is what systemic oppression looks like. A man with power comes to the game, tweets a couple of things out, and leaves the game with an attempt to thwart our efforts,” Reid said.

READ IT AT NFL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/nfl-players-association-hits-back-at-pence

[Zoonart]

1. Good for them.

I am convinced that beyond the first amendment issues and the jingoist race baiting...at the heart of this issue is union busting. Jerry Jones threatened to bench any member of his team that takes a knee or engages in any on field protest of the anthem next week.
If he follows through... he will run smack into the Union. We'll see.

Some NFL owners seem to be under the impression that they are running a plantation.

[MontanaMama]

3. It'd be interesting if Jerry Jones'

entire roster took a knee. What would he do then? Bench everybody? I agree that some NFL owners seem to see themselves as plantation owners. Dotard's tweet about owners being afraid of their players and that being a problem smacked of that IMO. Dog whistle for uppity...

[Zoonart]

4. Yep!

[Gore1FL]

31. If only one does and then files a lawsuit, it could be fun.

I would assume private employers are going to be subject to this if it's because of pressure from a public official.

[MontanaMama]

36. Thats intriguing!

I’m going to pass this on to my kiddo who is questioning having to stand for the pledge at school. It’s such a shit show. Thanks for the post.

[eggplant]

42. The NFL is not the government. Public school is.

The Supreme Court ruling doesn't apply to the NFL.

Your kid, on the other hand, has every right to just sit quietly WITHOUT being called out for it. I would expect a call from the school that day. And props to your kid!

[MontanaMama]

47. There's a pack of students that

have told their homeroom teacher that they would like to sit for the pledge. So far, all she's done is notify us parents. I've told him that I require him to be respectfully quiet as he sits it out. He's questioned everything every day his whole 12 years on the planet - even from me - I don't expect that to change.

[eggplant]

50. Most excellent.

[eggplant]

43. I can't imagine how "pressure from a public official" would affect this.

If it did, it would be validating illegal bullying by the government, which is ALREADY precluded from interfering with private business for partisan purposes. (I'm sure our AG will get right on that.)

[doc03]

35. Just read on Yahoo that Jerry Jones said if any player takes a knee at

their games from now on the Cowboys will not plays

[Hangingon]

44. Is it a condition of employment?

I will bet Jerry Jones has covered this with his lawyers. Watch for other owners to follow Jerry is attendance and approvals continue to fall.

[MontanaMama]

46. "Condition of employment"

meaning explicitly stated in their contract? Holy crap, if that's the case, make room for the Jerry Maguire's of the athletic world to be negotiating that out of contracts. Jerry and owners like him want to be more than owners of the team...sounds like they want to own people. Dotard alluded to this.

[Hangingon]

48. How cool. Tom Cruise will make a sequel.

I guess you can negotiate anything but when you wear the team uniform, you speak for the team. When you are not at work, in the uniform , I think you can speak for yourself. This is pretty established.

[iluvtennis]

60. He wouldn't do shit. Remember, it's all about money. All the players benched means no game, no ppl

filling the stadiums, no TV/ads, etc.

[snort]

29. It would be great to see the entire team take a knee.

Fuck Jerry Jones.

[MontanaMama]

37. Yep.

I said this upthread that Jerry’s threats smell a little like plantation owner. Stinks.

[snort]

38. Loss of control

freaks authoritarians out. Welcome to the show, jerrry.

[rockfordfile]

45. I agree

[MichMan]

2. Doubt the union can dictate who is on the field

Don't think the NFL Players Union can interject on who plays and who sits on the bench

[Zoonart]

5. I think...

that if the players being benched is an infringement of their first amendment rights, having nothing to do with the. game, and they petition the Union to file a complaint against the team, then this sets up a showdown that could go to the courts.

[MichMan]

6. I think people need a better understanding of the 1st....nm

[Calista241]

7. Agreed.

[rpannier]

10. Union would likely lose that

Private employers have latitude in the behavior of their employees, especially when it negatively impacts their business and the employee is using their business as a platform to engage in an activity that has nothing to do with the business operations
The NFL could easily argue, and point to the declining television numbers as proof the players non-work related behavior is negatively impacting their business

The only thing the players have going for them is that they are a unique group of people who have a skill set that few others can come close to emulating. The owners know that. For now, the NFL has decidedly, and rightfully so, not to have this thing blow back into something they lose total control over

[snort]

32. That only thing is everything.

The players have the power over the team owners if they choose to. The real question is if they can get it together. A few hold outs won't make a difference they can only have so many players on a roster at one time.

[ProfessorGAC]

54. Like Most CBAs Though...

...disciplinary procedures have to contractually enumerated.
They can't be done through each player's remuneration agreement.
UAW, Teamsters, State & Municipal Employees, et al all have had those elements collectively bargained for decades.
I think the NFLPA has a bit more leverage on this than you do, I guess.

[druidity33]

59. Only with a Republican NLRB! nt.

[IggleDuer]

8. The way the NFL performs the flag cremony violates the US flag code in several ways ...

.... Flag held and displayed flat and held down, restricting the flag's free motion.

If a player or fans refused to stand for the improper use and display of the flag, they would not be disrespecting the flag. The NFL is!

[Paladin]

9. Pence's little kabuki stunt is being savaged on Morning Joe, today.

Big-time fail, Pence. You sanctimonious asswipe.

[L. Coyote]

16. Abuse of power for political propaganda and distraction purposes.

Link to tweet

[Paladin]

24. One way or another, it's always about distraction. (nt)

[L. Coyote]

27. Using distraction for control. It is all about control, people, media, for the sake of power.

Bottom line is power!

[Maxheader]

11. Old era

rightwinger politico...Get with it gop, people want change.

And not cheetos brand of change where what we have
left goes to the right. Freedom, freedom of the press,
freedom to tell it like it is. Fuck pence...

[mountain grammy]

12. Yesterday during the Dallas/Green Bay game

my husband called his brother to wish him happy birthday.. Of course, I'm in the background cheering on the Packers and hubby tells brother(a Dallas fan) that we're watching the game.. Brother says he's not watching football because of disrespect for the flag and vets, blah, blah. Now, my BIL is NOT a vet, but my husband is a Vietnam vet.. he says to his brother, if you want to be a sucker for trump, don't do it in my name.. this is bullshit. I didn't serve to be used as divisive talking points for a fascist president.

[efhmc]

14. Kabam

Amazing response.

[mountain grammy]

25. I know, right? He's finding his voice.

[roscoeroscoe]

15. Right on

Right there with you both

[Rorey]

19. Awesome!!! NT

[NRaleighLiberal]

13. I don't think trump et all will want the inevitable blow back from this idiocy

then again, maybe they do...as long as everything is all about trump, it seems all publicity is good publicity

[forgotmylogin]

20. Plus, it's very clear this was planned.

It wasn't like "Mike P...enjoying a football game at random" who is shook to his core and has to leave to his offense. He did this on purpose as a red-meat snack for the base.

I'm basing this on reports that his transportation was told not to leave because they weren't staying.

[snort]

34. So many football leagues to destroy,

so little time.

[Chipper Chat]

17. I don't know how many of you were alive when Hitler was in power

But I was. The monikers Shitler and Pencetato r are fitting.. and it is totally scary

[Rorey]

30. I wasn't here yet, but....

I think we're on the same page.

I love my country. At what point did it become "freedom" to mandate that someone sing a song or stand up for a flag? I have stood with my hand on my heart because I wanted to, but I will not be commanded to do so.

[klook]

51. I like "Pencetato"

or, even better, "Pencetatoe" in tribute to another great VP.

These cretins deserve all the ridicule we can heap on them.

[Chipper Chat]

56. and also from indiana!

Lugar would have made a much better republican VP than those two embarrassing toads.

[malthaussen]

18. They heve the right to protest, and he has the right to walk out.

I'd say this is making a mountain out of a molehill, but of course we're not really talking about the right to protest, or this issue would not be so hot.

-- Mal

[rainin]

22. Of course Pence has the right to walk out

and we have to right to call him on his white supremacy. This isn't about squelching Pence. It's about calling him out when he attempts to silence the first amendment rights of NFL players.

Also, no one is threatening to "bench" Pence for his political statement...that he made incidentally while ON THE JOB. He goes on untouched.The players are under attack for making a non-violent statement.

Doesn't anyone realize the message this sends? I'll help. Non-violence doesn't work. Am I alone in fearing that this is where this is going?

[jvill]

26. Yes, Pence has the right to walk out.

Pence made a political protest during the National Anthem. The football players are simply exercising the same exact right as Pence.

But let's also be clear on what each is doing.

The football players are protesting the police's unequal treatment of black Americans.

Vice President Pence just spent roughly $250k of our taxpayer dollars to execute a pre-planned PR stunt designed to sow division in America.

[SunSeeker]

53. Pence has a right to protest on his own time, not the taxpayers' time.

The Hatch Act restricts federal employee participation in certain partisan political activities.  The political activity restrictions apply during the entire time of an employee’s federal service.  Certain rules prohibit both on-duty and off-duty conduct.

Partisan political activities are those activities directed at the success or failure of a political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group.  

[MichMan]

55. Pretty sure that doesnt apply to the VP. nm

[SunSeeker]

58. Well that would explain why he had Pence do it as opposed to his Cabinet bootlicks.

It is still problematic for any government official to try to chill the First Amendment rights of these players, and the fact that almost all of the protesters are African American warrants stricter scrutiny.

[Skittles]

61. CORRECT

WELCOME TO DU, jvill

[CapnSteve]

21. The distraction campaign continues and will continue until indictments come down...

Ignore. Upstage. Indict.

Can't happen soon enough!

[democratisphere]

23. The entire WH administration, family and cabinet should be BANNED

from all NFL games, stadiums and functions.

[samnsara]

28. america takes a knee to trump...right in the ol....

[Scurrilous]

33. K&R

[doc03]

39. This thread made me think, did anyone in the WH say anything about the

Nazis and KKK march in Virginia this weekend. Isn't carrying the Nazi flag and the southern flag of treason
disrespecting our country and flag. We have a pathological liar, admitted sexual predator,
draft dodger and Russian collaborator shutting down our constitutional rights granted by the 1st Amendment.

[stopbush]

40. The entire flag/anthem ceremony at NFL games is a result of the owners

making a deal with the Federal gov - ie: the US military - to militarize the national anthem, using it as a recruitment tool.

NFL players are being forced to play a role in this exercise of the Federal government. Since the First Amendment clearly prohibits the government from interferring with a citizen’s right to free speech, any attempt by the government OR the NFL owners - who are acting as willing partners with the Federal government - to impinge on the players’ right to protest is a violation of the Constitution.

[Gothmog]

41. K&R

[LiberalLovinLug]

49. I'd like to see the Orange Boor take a knee

[Alice11111]

52. Yes, call that creepy MF out! In his case, he does F his M,

since that's what he calls her.

[FakeNoose]

57. They should just refuse to sell him tickets - ever again

No reason for the NFL to allow themselves to be used for GOP grandstanding tactics.

Nobody is "entitled" to NFL tickets, not even the Pres or VP. They have to buy tickets just like the rest of us do. Whenever one of misbehaves or abuses our privilege we lose the privilege, right? So Pence should be banned from all future NFL games.