Dallas broadcaster Dale Hansen last night delivered a strong defence of the NFL players defying Donald Trump by refusing to stand during the National Anthem.
Trump suggested that NFL owners should fire players who disrespect the American flag, saying "Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out, he's fired. He's fired."
Hansen, a military veteran, works for ABC affiliate WFAA. Last night, with eyes on the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals as they played in Phoenix, Hansen had some scolding words for the US President.
Those included a dig at Trump's many deferments of military service, including one for bad feet which prevented him from being drafted for the Vietnam War.
I served in the military during the Vietnam war and my foot hurt too, but I served anyway.
My best friend in high school was killed in Vietnam and Karol Myer will be 18-years-old forever and he did not die so that you could decide who is a patriot and who loves America more.
The young, black athletes are not disrespecting America or the military by taking a knee during the anthem. They are respecting the best thing about America. It’s a dog whistle to the racists among us to say otherwise.
They, and all of us, should protest how black Americans are treated in this country. And if you don’t think white privilege is a fact, you don’t understand America.
You can watch Dale Hansen's speaking at the National Anthem protests below.
