As white Americans sit back and watch, the NFL — goaded by President Donald Trump — is stomping on the civil rights of its players by requiring them to stand while the national anthem is played before each game. There is no law stating that we must stand, nor does it appear anywhere in the Constitution (we didn't even have a national anthem until March 3, 1931), yet our president calls for these players to be fired for exercising their civil rights. If I prefer to remain seated, buy a beer or even stand on my head during the anthem, I have that right.

Colin Kaepernick's purpose in taking a knee was to protest racial inequality and police violence against black citizens. All Americans, white and black alike, must protest racial injustice and police violence. Do we white Americas need to be reminded of the 300 years of slavery, the constant racial discrimination, the Jim Crow years, the hundreds of lynchings of the past century and the years of jail time spent by black Americans due to the racial injustice in the court systems of every state?

Let's join the black athletes and others. Take a knee at the next event where the national anthem is played — not in disrespect but in support of those determined to abolish the racial injustice as it exists in America today. Take a knee, white America. Show that we too support making this a better, more just nation.

Richard J. Ronconi

Berne