In the wake of this week’s latest wave of scandal surrounding national anthem protests in the NFL, Run The Jewels MC El-P took to Twitter to voice his opinions about the league and its often questionable moral compass. Earlier this week, the league passed a ruling which allows them to levy fines if players continue to kneel during the customary pre-game rendition of the national anthem.
The new policy, announced Wednesday after a two-day meeting of the league’s 32 owners here, leaves it to individual teams to discipline players for acts deemed disrespectful during the anthem but also gives the league wide discretion to fine teams for actions taken by players. The changes met quickly with approval from Vice President Pence and skepticism from the NFL Players Association, which said it was not consulted on the changes.
El-P was one of many people in the public eye who spoke out against the decision, offering some facts and reasoning behind RTJ’s opposition to the NFL and their practices this week:
NFL been trash. they asked for the rights to play legend has it in the stadium during the superbowl. we said no because fuck them. they operate like they’re an indispensable public utility. they aren’t. they are gone with the flip of a channel. fuuuuuuck you.
— el-p (@therealelp) May 24, 2018
and just in case anyone is wondering how much the nfl wanted to pay us for using legend has it, that would be zero dollars and the strong suggestion that we take them up on the opportunity to enrich a private, racist and for profit company masquerading as a non profit. blow me.
— el-p (@therealelp) May 24, 2018
i only told that story because i wanted to make the point that its all a choice. its fun and great to watch the games with fam and friends if thats your thing, but you control it and if you gotta change the channel to put a dunce cap on these clowns so be it, no?
— el-p (@therealelp) May 24, 2018
The members of Run The Jewels have never been shy about their politics. Beyond the pervading “speak truth to power” theme of their catalog, Killer Mike and El-P have both been notably outspoken on a number of controversial topics, from sexual assault at concerts to institutional oppression to gun rights. Killer Mike was an active supporter of Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primaries, interviewing him in a widely viewed, six-part video segment. Mike would also go on to speak at a number of Bernie campaign events, and Sanders returned the favor by recording an introduction video for Run The Jewels’ set at Coachella.
[H/T Pitchfork]