GOP Congressman Compares Kneeling NFL Players To Nazis, Claims Protests Based On ‘Lies Vs. Police’

In the immediate aftermath of the NFL announcing new policy that would require players to stand during the national anthem, New York Jets chairman and acting owner Christopher Johnson said that he would pay any fines for players who chose to protest during the anthem.

“I do not like imposing any club-specific rules,” Johnson told Newsday earlier this week. “If somebody [on the Jets] takes a knee, that fine will be borne by the organization, by me, not the players. I never want to put restrictions on the speech of our players.”

Johnson also noted that there “are some big, complicated issues that we’re all struggling with, and our players are on the front lines,” referencing the fact that the athletes are protesting police brutality and racial injustice by taking a knee.

Well, it would appear that one conservative New York lawmaker isn’t too happy about Johnson’s decision. And not only is he no longer a Jets fan, he also believes that protesting players — almost all of whom are black — are just like Nazis.

In a tweet sent Saturday morning, Rep. Peter King (R-NY) slammed Johnson while claiming that the owner is “[e]ncouraging a movement premised on lies vs. police.”

Disgraceful that @nyjets owner will pay fines for players who kneel for National Anthem. Encouraging a movement premised on lies vs. police. Would he support all player protests? Would he pay fines of players giving Nazi salutes or spew racism? It’s time to say goodbye to Jets!

— Rep. Pete King (@RepPeteKing) May 26, 2018

He also asked if Johnson would “pay fines of players giving Nazi salutes or spew racism,” concluding the tweet by stating it is “time to say goodbye to Jets!”

How is King’s tweet being received on the interwebs? The all-telling ratio shows that an hour and a half after he hit send, it was retweeted 69 times and liked 182, all while tallying over 1600 comments.