In August of 2016, the NFL was divided over taking a knee during the national anthem or to stand with your hand over your heart. Since then, the discussion about this subject has moved to other sports as well.

     The BLM movement is still tied to many sports, with the NFL, and the MLB pledging support to the movement, and specifically NASCAR banning the confederate flag in the league. 

       An athlete famous for his protest for the Black Lives Matter movement is Colin Kaepernick. He played for the San Francisco 49ers; and during a game in August 2016, he took a knee alongside another player on the team and a US veteran.

       The days prior to this game two black men had been victims to police brutality. After this game, Kaepernick was not brought back for another season after six years on the team.

     Although Kaepernick is still not in the NFL four years later, he has in fact, returned to the NFL game Madden, where he has a personal touchdown dance showcasing him holding up a black power fist. Jay Sullivan, a student from Chicago Public Schools stated he believes him being added was “a publicity stunt, Kaepernic has been out of the game for years and he is the only free agent in the game.”

     Many have protested this return to the game for similar reasons, but the NFL and EA, the game developers, say they stand with Kaepernick and that’s the reason for the return.

     Professional leagues are not the only place where people have opinions and ideas about sports and their connection to political protests. 

      Football coach Mark Filliaggi said he is adamant in believing everyone should have the right to make their own choice even if he might not agree. “Whether you stand or take a knee I don’t think that you should be punished or ostracized.” He believes as a coach there would “need to be a discussion as a team so that everyone could be understood,” regarding the choice of whether to kneel or not.