[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]President Donald Trump’s decision to take on athletes who choose to kneel during the national anthem at the start of professional sports games shows his disregard for the protections offered by the US Constitution’s First Amendment.

“The ability to choose to ‘take the knee’ in protest at what individuals see as injustice is protected by the First Amendment. While no one is saying the president or anyone else needs to agree with refusing to stand during The Star-Spangled Banner, the protections offered by the US Constitution enable Americans to make their own ‘statements’. Acting in accordance with the rights enshrined in the Constitution is respecting the ideals that the national anthem represents,” Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of Index on Censorship said.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Stay up to date on free speech” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Index is a nonprofit that campaigns for and defends free expression worldwide. We publish work by censored writers and artists, promote debate, and monitor threats to free speech. We believe that everyone should be free to express themselves without fear of harm or persecution – no matter what their views. Join our mailing list to get our weekly newsletter.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][gravityform id=”20″ title=”false” description=”false” ajax=”false”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”12″ style=”load-more” items_per_page=”4″ element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1506347728698-e036ca33-8297-5″ taxonomies=”986″][/vc_column][/vc_row]