U.S. Attorney General Sessions denounces NFL protests

WASHINGTON -26 September 2017: U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Tuesday denounced football players who have protested racism by kneeling or locking arms during the playing of the national anthem before games, saying that even though their speech is protected, they should be condemned for showing disrespect to the country.

Speaking to an audience at Georgetown Law School, Sessions said athletes who chose to protest during the national anthem were making a "big mistake" with an action that "weakens the commitment we have to this nation."

Sessions was at Georgetown to deliver an address about free speech on college campuses. Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump called on the National Football League to ban players from kneeling in protest while the anthem is played.

"The players aren't subject to any prosecution, but if they take a provocative act, they can expect to be condemned, and the president has the right to condemn them, and I would condemn their actions," he said.