Eric Holder to Trump: ‘Taking a knee is not without precedent’

Former Attorney General Eric Holder on Sunday responded to President Trump’s criticism of NFL players who do not stand during the national anthem, saying kneeling “is not without precedent.”

“Taking a knee is not without precedent Mr. President,” Holder tweeted, alongside a photo of Martin Luther King Jr. “Those who dared to protest have helped bring positive change.”

Taking a knee is not without precedent Mr. President. Those who dared to protest have helped bring positive change pic.twitter.com/Ik0t1mHaYl

— Eric Holder (@EricHolder) September 24, 2017

{mosads}Trump has faced backlash in recent days after calling on NFL owners to fire players who kneel during the national anthem.

“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b—- off the field right now,'” Trump said at a rally in Alabama on Friday. “‘He is fired.'” 

Trump’s comments brought rebukes against Trump from multiple NFL players, the head of the NFL players’ union and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who called Trump’s comments “divisive” and said they showed a “lack of respect for the NFL.”

Several NFL executives have also spoken out against Trump and reaffirmed their players’ rights to peacefully protest.

But Trump on Sunday doubled down on his comments, calling for players to be fired or suspended for not standing during the national anthem and hitting the NFL for not telling players to stand.