To combat the NFL players protesting of the national anthem, one gun range owner in southern New Jersey decided to put up a billboard that says, “The only time we take a knee.” In conjunction with the words, the billboard also displayed shows a picture of a person all in black holding a rifle. Because it appears to be mocking NFL players who are chose to take a knee to fight of police brutality and racial inequality, liberals in the area are highly upset.
Many have claimed that the billboard is “racist.”
But the gun range owner has come out to say that the sign has nothing to do with race or minorities in the United States. Wesley Aducat, the owner of the South Jersey Shooting Club, said:
Although the gun range owner attests that his advertisement does not have anything to do with race, locals are still offended.
One person named MoNeke Ragsdale snapped a picture of the billboard and turned to Twitter to “expose” Aducat’s “racist” sign.
“Please call! This billboard on Rt. 73 in Voorhees. Tell them this billboard is racist. Taking a knee is a protest to say NO to police brutality. The women of SJWPC are taking a knee to support black and brown people. Take it down! The manager is Carmen Console: 609-704-9500.”
Although Aducat wishes that every NFL player would stand during the anthem, he supports the players’ right to protest. It says it is their first amendment right to do so. But for the members of his shooting club, many of whom are veterans, Aducat sees firsthand how hurtful and disrespectful the NFL protest is.
But the local chapter of the NAACP says that Aducat fails to grasp the meaning of the kneeling.
“We’re talking about police murdering unarmed black people,” NAACP member Keith Blenson Sr. said. “(The South Jersey Shooting Club) deserves all the disrespect they’re going to get as a result of putting it up. But they probably thought they were clever. They probably thought they were strong, patriotic Americans.”
Other New Jersey residents are also offended by the sign including a member of the South Jersey Women for Progressive Change.
“We’re living in a very difficult time right now. People are trying to stand up for black and brown people to say, ‘Hey this is not right.’ That sign really is just mocking the idea of taking a knee.”
Just as the NFL protest is dividing the country, the New Jersey shooting range’s billboard is divisive. People on Facebook have charged both supportive and critical comments concerning the advertisement. And while the players have their first amendment right to take a knee, in the same way, Aducat has the first amendment right to advertise his business.
Where do you stand on this contentious issue? Both sides of the fence have good arguments concerning the protest. But do you stand on the side with the veterans? Do you believe that NFL players should get back on their feet and stand with their hands over their hearts as the anthem plays?
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