Tennessee GOP Lawmakers Want To Ban Student-Athletes From Kneeling Following ETSU Protest

[TexasTowelie]

Republican state senators want university athletes to be punished for protesting while at sporting events.

Every GOP member of the Tennessee Senate has signed a letter after the men’s basketball team at East Tennessee State University knelt during the national anthem.

State Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City, is one of the signees. During a hearing Monday, he said he supports the right of student athletes to protest, as long as it is during their free time.

“Most of us are thinking that when you are in that uniform and you are acting as an ambassador for the university and the state, there possibly is a line there that differentiates that freedom of speech,” Crowe said.

Read more: https://wpln.org/post/tennessee-gop-lawmakers-want-to-ban-student-athletes-from-kneeling-following-etsu-protest/

[lapfog_1]

1. the athletes are actually acting as slave labor for

the colleges and universities who are ranking in huge profits from their sports teams. TV revenue, ticket sales, alumni contributions, sales of branded gear and clothing. The players (some of them) may get a "free education"... but the real lure is a slim chance at a pro career... if they stay injury free and become one of 100 or so at each sport selected for a highly profitable but usually short pro career. very very few end up with Tom Brady salaries.

[Duppers]

2. Indeed! 😟

[mrs_p]

3. So the government wants to punish

Freedom of expression. Hmmm.

Aren’t republicans always whining when a private organization restricts or bans someone from its private platform.

But the government should be able to - despite being a clear first amendment violation.

I just can’t stand the hypocrisy and lack of self awareness of these asshats.