A St. Francisville area state lawmaker is calling for cutting millions of state tax benefits to the New Orleans Saints after some of its players knelt during the national anthem on Sunday, as part of widespread protests in the NFL.
Republican State Rep. Kenny Havard says in a news release the NFL players who have knelt during the national anthem to protest social injustices are “disrespecting our national anthem and flag.”
Havard’s remarks come after President Donald Trump criticized the NFL and protests during a campaign rally in Alabama on Friday. The president continued his criticism via tweets through the weekend. His remarks sparked widespread protests on Sunday during NFL football games, including by former LSU star and Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette.
The Saints players who protested included Kenny Vaccaro, Rafael Bush, Cameron Jordan, Sheldon Rankins, Alex Okafor, Chris Banjo, Adrian Peterson, Mark Ingram, Brandon Coleman and Alvin Kamara, The USA Today Network of Louisiana reports. Quarterback Drew Brees stood during the anthem but criticized Trump’s remarks. Coach Sean Payton said during a press conference he was “proud of every one of the players” and was also critical of the president.
In his statement, Havard says he supports the right to protest, but not at “a taxpayer subsidized sporting event.”
“The very reason they have the privilege and opportunity to play professional football while being paid millions is because someone in uniform died protecting their right to do so,” Havard says. “It is a disgrace to the men and woman [sic] of this nation and state who have sacrificed so much.
