Don Lemon: ‘No American Gets to Tell Another’ How to Express Their Patriotism
.@DonLemon: Let's set the record straight. Taking a knee at an NFL game was never about the flag or the military. https://t.co/eYmt2XBG8Q
— CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) September 26, 2017
Don Lemon led CNN Tonight with a monologue about how President Trump can’t force Americans to embrace a homogenous view of patriotism and First Amendment rights.
As Trump continues to spar with athletes who kneel during the National Anthem, Lemon noted that the protests of Colin Kaepernick were never about disrespecting the American flag or the military. Lemon said that kneeling is a constitutionally protected expression, and that Trump is only trying to link the protests to the flag in order to justify the profane insults during his rally for Luther Strange:
“Here is what this is about. It’s about focusing attention on racial injustice, focusing attention on racial injustice. It’s about challenging our country to extend the promise of that flag to all citizens, including the citizens whose ancestors were slaves. You may not agree with Colin Kaepernick or the scores of players who take a knee or took a knee this weekend. And that is okay, you don’t have to agree with them. But that’s not really the point here. No American gets to tell another American how to express their love for this country.”
Lemon also asked whether patriotism is defined by expressing love for the American flag and civic rituals, or by standing up for the country’s founding principles. He continued to say that “patriotism comes in many forms,” and “what matters is what’s in your heart, and that’s the American way.”
Watch above, via CNN.
[Image via screengrab]
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