A.G. Gancarski
Candidates for public office in Jacksonville, mindful of endorsements and donations, generally steer clear of commentary on civil liberties issues.
However, Kevin Monroe, a Democrat running to replace state Senate candidate Reggie Brown in Northwest Jacksonville’s District 10, deviated from the ongoing trend by directly linking the paradox between the National Football League’s new National Anthem policy and an NBA player tased by police earlier this year.
“This is America,” Monroe asserted. “Sixteen hours ago the NFL adopted a new rule stating that players who kneel during the national anthem would be subjected to fines. They have been given the choice to stay in the locker rooms while anthem plays or they need to stand and ‘respect the flag’.”
“Fourteen hours ago an arrest video of Milwaukee Bucks player, Sterling Brown, is released where officers ‘acted inappropriately’ by tasing the young player after harassing him over what should’ve been a simple parking violation ticket,” Monroe adds. “The Mayor of Milwaukee has apologized for his officers’ inappropriate use of force on the 22 year old rookie after an internal investigation.”
Monroe notes that the “peaceful and quiet kneeling of national anthem during football games was made famous by critics of it during the 2016- 2017 NFL season.”
“These protests were started by players believing police officers were unfairly using excessive force and fatal means on African-Americans across the country,” Monroe adds. “The NFL rule and the release of the video happened within hours of each other. This is America.”
Monroe is running against five other Democrats for two tickets out of the March 2019 “first election.”
Despite having under $2,000 cash on hand, he leads the money race among the undercapitalized six-pack of candidates.
Institutional money, including from downtown Jacksonville developer interests and the like, thus far has not found this field of candidates.
5 comments
Seber Newsome III
May 24, 2018 at 12:54 pm
Protesting is fine, but do it on your own dime. Players are being paid by the fans in attendance. Jacksonville, Florida is a military town. Do you want to disrespect the military and their family members? If so, then you do not belong on the city council.
Frankie M.
May 24, 2018 at 11:35 pm
Players can do whatever the hell they want. Nobody cared about this til Trump made a big deal about it. It’s like gay marriage all over again. It’s a distraction from Trump’s turrible record in office. Talk about a nuthin burger. Now Trump wants to deport players that don’t stand? Seems to be his answer for everything these days. Maybe he can send them to play for his buddy Putin in Russia.
If the owners were smart they would keep players in the locker rooms while the Westsiders can show their popcorn patriotism. This ain’t Nascar. Ten years ago players came out after the NA & nobody gave a damn.
Seber Newsome III
May 25, 2018 at 9:30 am
It sounds like your one of the players who kneeled during the National Anthem. If you do not like America, just leave. People cared about this before President Trump said anything about it. The NFL players are overpaid cry babies, just like you. Let them kneel again or stay in the locker room and see attendance drop drop drop. Once it hits Shad Khans pocketbook, his attitude will change, just like the rest of the NFL.
Seber Newsome III
May 25, 2018 at 9:54 am
Sure they can do whatever they want, and the fans dont have to pay their overpaid asses either. Take your protesting somewhere else, we dont care what you think, we dont pay to see you protest, just play football, thats all your good for. Kneel here in Jacksonville and see the attendance drop drop drop, and shah khan will lose money, he will move the Jaguars, great!!!!!
Seber Newsome III
May 25, 2018 at 6:51 pm
Sure, the players can do whatever they want, but, not during a NFL game. They are paid by those in attendance and those who watch them on TV. We can live without them or their cry baby ways. If the Jaguar players either, kneel or stay in the locker room, their will be a price to pay, as far as attendance. Then, lets see how Shad feels when he loses money. Maybe he will do us a favor and move the Jaguars.
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