Cleveland Browns Players Kneel Sunday In Protest Against Trump Comments

CLEVELAND, OH — For the second time this season, pre-game protest from Cleveland Browns players are drawing headlines. This time, the team and its owner, Jimmy Haslam, denounced President Donald Trump after he said NFL players who practice their First Amendment rights on the football field by kneeling during the national anthem should be fired.

Prior to the team's game on Sunday, Haslam and his wife Dee, released a statement, saying, "We must not let misguided, uninformed and divisive comments from the President or anyone else deter us from our efforts to unify. Our stance in support of the liberties of peaceful, personal expression afforded to our players and all Americans will remain strong, and we will continue to encourage our players to respectfully use their earned platform to inspire positive change in our nation and throughout society."

During the team's game on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, approximately 20 players took a knee during the anthem. They were joined by a large number of Colts' player kneeling as well. (To stay up to date on local stories, subscribe to the Patch Cleveland newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

The Browns and Colts were two parts of nearly league-wide protests on Sunday. At the league's first game in London, where the Baltimore Ravens were playing the Jacksonville Jaguars, a couple dozen players took a knee during the playing of the national anthem. Jacksonville's owner, Shahid Khan, stood in a line shoulder-to-shoulder with his players, all of their arms interlocked in solidarity. Ravens coach John Harbaugh did the same.

Read more about the league's protests here.

Earlier this season, the Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association said it would no longer take part in the team's pre-game festivities because of the decision of some players to kneel during the national anthem.

"As law enforcement officers, we took an oath to serve and to protect. We protect the rights of all citizens to express their views as protected by the First Amendment of our constitution, no matter the issue. Our American flag is an important symbol to our great country and we, as officers, will continue to salute it," Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said, while indicating officers would continue to support the team.

Read more about that controversy here.

Photo from AP, Ron Schwane