Former Pittsburgh Steeler and current Supreme Court candidate Judge Dwayne Woodruff entered into the national debate over President Donald Trump’s on NFL players protesting during the national anthem.
“This past Friday, the leader of our country made disparaging comments, which only serve to push our country to become more divided and ultimately penalizes our first amendment rights under the Constitution,” Woodruff said in a statement.
During a rally in Huntsville, Alabama Trump called for NFL players who knelt during the national anthem to be fired by the team owners.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b—- off the field right now. Out. He’s fired. He’s fired,” Trump said.
Woodruff, the first African-American endorsed by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party for a Supreme Court seat, cited the efforts of civil rights leaders as support for the NFL players.
“The history of our country records the courageous efforts by people we now consider heroes such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Muhammad Ali and Rosa Parks; they endeavored against great opposition, to gain/preserve rights and freedom for current and future generations. We must continue to be a country united in justice and equality for all,” Woodruff said.
After Trump’s comments, the Steelers remained in the locker room during the national anthem. Most other NFL teams held some form of protest during the national anthem.
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15 Responses
Not taking anything away just speaking for millions with no public platform.
Just because it is permitted by law or the constitution doesn’t make it the right or smart thing to do. I am allowed to flip off my boss as a “freedom of speech,” but do you think that’s a smart thing to do?
I am more concerned with how badly the Steelers played once they got on the field!
Doesn’t the President of the United States have more important things to worry about than this sort of thing? Tax reform, healthcare, foreign relations, anything?
He has to talk about something else…He can’t get anything DONE. LLLLL
He spoke about a lot of topics at the rally but we wouldn’t know that because the news media didn’t cover it. They went after what would make him look bad and cause the most controversy. That’s what they do on a daily basis. They (media) really are a dishonest group. What they didn’t expect is, after stirring the pot and getting the NFL to attack Trump, that most of the country pushed back in support of standing for the anthem.
He isn’t taking anything away. We all have freedom of speech and employers have the right to fire and suspended. Boycott the nfl!!!!!!!
Make America Great Again.
But Trump does not have the right to pressure an employer to fire an employee. It is against the law.
Where did he pressure an employer?? He gave his opinion.
He expressed an opinion that they “should” be fired. Since he has no power to fire them, it’s merely an opinion, not illegal
How come the Good Judge’s campaign manager Micah Sims lying about and falsifying Woodruff’s finance reports isn’t getting any play? We’re talking criminal actions here folks.
Too bad the present Steeler team did not have the courage to publicly express themselves. Hiding in the locker room seems a bit cowardly.
They’re coming for our guns…. They’re coming for our guns…. MEANWHILE, Trump is taking our Freedom of Speech away right in front of our noses. But never mind that.
NO ONE IS TAKING AWAY YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH. DON’T BE CHILDISH.
Agreed– the Dotards are for the Constitution except when they oppose it.