In continuation of his recent string of pardons handed down to those who have been incarcerated, living and deceased, President Donald J. Trump has announced that he wants to meet with NFL players and other athletes who have been protesting the national anthem for criminal justice reform.
CNN reports that Trump announced at the White House on Friday (June 8) that he wishes to meet with various athletes "I'm going to ask them to recommend to me people who were unfairly treated," Trump said at White House Friday.
"You have a lot of people in the NFL in particular, but in sports leagues, they're not proud enough to stand for our National Anthem. I don't like that," Trump said while insisting that the league’s players should not stay in their respective locker rooms during the "Star Spangled Banner." The move comes after the NFL announced that players standing during the anthem while on the field is mandatory. Players that do not stand will face a fine. However, they will be allowed to remain in the locker room if they do not wish to stand.
"What I'm going to do is, I'm going to say to them instead of talk ... I am going to ask all of those people to recommend to me -- because that's what they're protesting -- people that they think were unfairly treated by the justice system," Trump said. "And I understand that."
He added, "If the athletes have friends of theirs or people they know about that have been unfairly treated by the system, let me know."
Trump makes this announcement after he has recently pardoned Alice Johnson who was incarcerated in federal prison for 20 years for a non-violent offense.
Source: cnn.com
