Many Americans are outraged at Colin Kaepernick and other athletes for kneeling during the national anthem in an act of peaceful protest against police brutality; however, where is that same chauvinistic indignation towards the instances of racial injustice that initially sparked the protest?

Standing for the flag doesn’t make you patriotic, loving your country enough to go to the ends of the earth to implement change does. Football quarterback Colin Kaepernick began the protest in 2016 in opposition to the oppression of black people and police brutality. Our country is hurting, and athletes are taking a knee as the first step towards healing it.

This protest has never been about President Trump, our flag or our national anthem. It’s goal has always been to peacefully protest police brutality and racial discrimination. It is much larger than taking a knee; it is about taking a stand. During the Civil Rights movement, Rosa Parks did not refuse to move because she hated the bus; she refused to move because she was defending her rights. Reframing the argument to a debate about the national anthem and exploiting the service of our veterans only works to silence the voices fighting against police brutality.

The stars and stripes of the American flag are supposed to represent the ideologies that our troops overseas and at home protect. This country was built on the premise that all men were created equal, yet Black bodies are treated as though they are disposable and officers perpetuating police brutality continued not to be held accountable. Black veterans risk their lives in far away places to fight for this country, only to return home and not receive the full liberties they have put their life on the line for.  Standing for the flag doesn’t make you patriotic, loving your country even when it doesn’t love you back does.

Next Fourth of July, as you wear your American flag bikinis, throw away your American flag paper plates and disrespect the flag for no greater reason than satisfying the needs of your Bald-Eagle themed party, please remember that patriotism isn’t standing for a flag; patriotism is taking action to make this a country where everyone wants to stand.