The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Therefore, we all should be able to agree that athletes, entertainers, politicians and everyday Americans have the Constitutional right to peacefully protest in any lawful manner they deem necessary to promote their cause or bring awareness to a particular issue. Kneeling during the playing of the national anthem most certainly constitutes a lawful form of peaceful protest.

Now that we’ve established the Constitutional right to kneel during the national anthem, let’s do what many Americans are unwilling or unable to do……let’s talk for a brief moment about why some Americans are kneeling during the national anthem.

I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about and celebrate the great strides this country has made in race relations over the years. We’ve moved from the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, systematic denial of constitutional rights of other Americans during Jim Crow, to the election of the first African-American President. Americans have a lot to be proud of; however, we still have a very long journey in front of us when it comes to racial harmony and social justice for people of color.

Lately it appears that the journey towards racial harmony and social justice has stalled and been deferred. Bringing awareness to such delays is one of the primary reasons behind the anthem protests. This protest will have missed the mark, if as a result we as a country fail to engage each other in honest and empathetic dialogue and action on how to remove systemic racism, oppression and subsequently secure justice for all Americans. Our efforts will require sincere discussion and reflection and not name-calling and finger-pointing.

What initially started as a protest by one football player to shed light and bring awareness to racial inequality and oppression (police brutality) of people of color has been hijacked by calls for patriotism and respect for the American flag.  In terms of patriotism and respect for the American flag, I submit to you that those who kneel during the national anthem are no less patriotic and no more disrespectful to the flag than those “patriotic” Americans who chose to fly our American flag at half-mast or upside down upon the election and re-election of former President Barack Obama.

Please note that “peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy.” Whether it was the Boston Tea Party or the fight for Women’s Suffrage or the Civil Rights Movement, our country has been profoundly shaped by the actions of protest. In fact, the Protestant religion that many of us are members of was born out of protest.

To those who say kneeling during the national anthem is the wrong way and the wrong time to protest, please remember the point of most protests is not to be well-received or accepted, but to stand out and be noticed.

Maybe the anthem protests have run their course and a new strategy is required, but this country is better for the protest. We can’t sustain America’s greatness without a concerted effort to remove racial inequality, systemic racism and oppression within the borders of this great country.

Finally, in spite of the challenges that lie ahead and our differences of opinion in terms of where our country is heading, ultimately we all just want to proudly declare, like Langston Hughes, “I, too, am America.”