Batman would side with Colin Kaepernick, and the NFL players kneeling in solidarity, at least according to Batman: The Black Mirror artist Francesco Francavilla, who posted a drawing of the Dark Knight “taking a knee” in protest against racial discrimination.
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The drawing is in reference to a movement that began in 2016 when the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback knelt during the performance of the U.S. national anthem before an NFL game. The move drew some support, but also widespread criticism; following his departure from the 49ers, Kaepernick went unsigned this year.
Today’s BATMAN.#TakeTheKnee pic.twitter.com/t5wWAgkd1R
— FrancescoFrancavilla (@f_francavilla) September 24, 2017
At a rally Saturday for Republican Sen. Luther Strange, who’s running in a special election to fill the seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, President Donald Trump criticized professional athletes who have joined in the protest. “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,’” he exclaimed. “‘Out! He’s fired. He’s fired!’”
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He added, “You know, some owner is going to do that. He’s going to say, ‘That guy that disrespects our flag, he’s fired.’ And that owner, they don’t know it [but] they’ll be the most popular person in this country.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell issued a statement condemning Trump’s comments, saying, “The NFL and our players are at our best when we help create a sense of unity in our country and our culture. Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities.”
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Trump’s comments have gone on to enrage other sports organizations, in particular the professional basketball team the Golden State Warriors, who have since canceled a planned visit to the White House.
Today, a number of NFL teams chose to take a knee during the national anthem in support of Kaepernick, and in protest of Trump’s comments.