President Trump Singles Out NASCAR Regarding Anthem Protests; Dale Earnhardt Jr. Shows Support of Peaceful Protests
Following a firestorm of protests, kneeling and backlash that largely overshadowed the games themselves this weekend, the National Football League drew heavy heat for “allowing” players to kneel or otherwise silently protest during the singing of the National Anthem. New this weekend, team owners joining their players in protest, obviously in response to President Trump’s remarks calling for any player who protests during the Anthem be fired.
Hoping to head off any protests of the like from their drivers and team members, NASCAR team owners Richard Petty and Richard Childress both declared any of their team members would be fired if they knelt in protest during the Anthem at Sunday’s Cup Series event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. President Trump responded with support for the sanctioning body on Monday morning, tweeting “So proud of NASCAR and its supporters and fans. They won’t put up with disrespecting our Country or our Flag – they said it loud and clear!”.
However, not everybody in the Monster Energy Cup series feels the same way, among them one of the sports long-standing icons, Dale Earnhardt Jr. In response to President Trumps tweet on Monday, Junior fired back a tweet of his own, posting “All Americans R granted rights 2 peaceful protests. Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable-JFK”.
Arguably the sports most popular star for nearly two decades, Earnhardt has a massive platform, a fan base that may even exceed that of the sport of stock car racing itself, as he’s been one of few stars who has managed to transcend the sport itself. As such, he knows the power his worlds hold and he clearly decided there was a message to be sent.
So tell us what you think, Speed Society fans. We want to know where you stand on the issue. Do you have to choose one side or the other? Does Dale Jr’s support for the rights of those who protest mean he too is disrespecting our country? Jump in the comments on Facebook and let us know where you stand on this.
