Bar Owner Protests 'Take A Knee,' Won't Show NFL Games

LEOMINSTER, MA—The "taking a knee" protest movement swept the NFL over the weekend, the New England Patriots joining in kneeling in protest to inequality, and to spotlight concern over civil rights. With a country divided, the backlash included President Donald Trump's suggesting that owners should fire the players.

Joining the reaction and backlash locally, the owner of the Monument Tap in Leominster said that he is not airing Patriots games at the bar this Sunday. In fact, there "will be no NFL games shown no Sunday at the Tap." Instead, the bar is offering free pizza, wings and an American flag for each customer that day.

"The Patriots and the NFL decided to 'take a knee' and insult our veterans and our country," wrote owner Mike Cooley on the bar's website and Facebook page.

"It's not so much the NFL, other than the players using their fans as pawns to get attention," Cooley told Patch. "It's about the lack of respect that is given to our flag and our national anthem. The NFL seems to think our flag is just a piece of cloth, but it's the symbol of what should be a united country."

Cooley said he'll be playing music with patriot songs mixed in on Sunday, "as a way to give back to our small community and show that people still take pride in our country. This has nothing to do with president Trump, the Patriots or anyone else, yes, they were the motivation behind my thoughts, but it's about respect, respect for our country and respect for each other. It's only 1 day that we are making people aware that there is more to life than anger. Over the past 24 hours I have had my life threatened, a threat to burn my building, threats to start fights on Sunday, all because I chose not to watch football for the day. People are too wrapped up with hatred."

Photo: Several New England Patriots players kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, in Foxborough, MA. Photo by Michael Dwyer/Associated Press