FRESNO (KMJ) — The act of taking a knee, to protest against racism and police brutality, has been rebuked by Central Valley veterans.
The public demonstration started on the national stage last year with former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, but has since spread. Vice President Mike Pence walked out of a football game between the Indiana Colts and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, after around a dozen San Francisco players knelt during the national anthem.
I stand with @POTUS Trump, I stand with our soldiers, and I will always stand for our Flag and our National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/B0zP5M41MQ
— Vice President Pence (@VP) October 8, 2017
“Shame on them,” responded retired U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Charles Hudson. “You honor what you have. Your flag is dotted with a lot of blood.”
He was one of the 68 veterans taking part in the 14th Central Valley Honor Flight (click here to read more).
“I’m very offended by that,” reveals retired U.S. Air Force Sergeant John Trask. “The position that they’re in, representing many many people. It’s a real slur against those that gave their lives to protect what we have.”
“I think that they are entitled to protest but I think there are ways that they could do it without defacing our national anthem.”
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
