Excerpts from nbcchicago.com:
A Chicago firefighter has come under fire from many of his own after taking a knee during the national anthem ahead of a memorial football game honoring a fallen officer and CFD rescue diver, who were both killed in the line of duty.
The game between Chicago’s fire and police departments took place Saturday to raise funds for families of fallen CFD rescue diver Juan Bucio and police Cmdr. Paul Bauer.
Pictures on Facebook showed a firefighter, who played in the game, taking a knee during the national anthem. The move is part of a national movement to protest police brutality that has swept through the NFL.
A spokesperson for the Chicago Fire Department said the actions “may have been distasteful to many, but he was within his first amendment rights and not subject to department discipline while protesting during any off-duty event and not in uniform.”
The firefighter could not be reached for comment and as of Thursday he remained on the roster for CFD’s football team.
