Alan Dershowitz: Obama would have opposed NFL players’ protest too

A retired Harvard law professor has suggested that former President Obama would have opposed NFL players protesting during the national anthem if he were still in office.

According to The Hill, Alan Dershowitz said on John Catsimatidis’s AM 970 radio show, “I don’t know that the Obama administration would’ve handled this any differently. I think President Obama would have said he disapproves of kneeling during the national anthem.”

However, soon after then San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first protested the anthem last year, Obama reportedly had a more measured reaction at an event.

“I want Mr. Kaepernick and others who are on a knee, I want them to listen to the pain that that may cause somebody who, for example, had a spouse or a child who was killed in combat and why it hurts them to see somebody not standing," Obama said. "I also want people to think about the pain he may be expressing about somebody who’s lost a loved one that they think was unfairly shot.”

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During the recent interview, Dershowitz largely seemed to side with President Trump on the controversy, saying, “If you want to protest racism, then protest racism. But don’t protest the American flag, the national anthem, and the United States of America.”

He also argued, “The players are entitled to kneel if the owners allow them to. But the owners could say no.”

The law expert explained that while free speech under the First Amendment was a right provided by the federal government, the same protection did not necessarily apply to a private group like a professional football franchise.

President Trump has continued to pressure the NFL to force players to stand during the national anthem—including launching a petition against the protest—but league commissioner Roger Goodell has thus far resisted imposing any punishment on those who still want to protest social injustices.

Not surprisingly, Trump has frequently turned to Twitter over the past several weeks to express his position on the issue.

“Two dozen NFL players continue to kneel during the National Anthem, showing total disrespect to our Flag & Country,” the president tweeted on Monday. “No leadership in NFL!”