Michael Waldron, in his letter last week, characterizes athletes who kneel during the national anthem as “grandstanding” and implies that they are showing disrespect for  those in the military “who risked their lives for this country.”

But surely the national anthem is not just about or for the military. Those who have fought against racism and other forms of injustice in this country have also often risked their lives, and quite a number of lives have been lost in these struggles, including, of course, that of Dr. Martin Luther King.

Many of the athletes who knelt have done so in order to honor those fighting against continuing racism in our society. There is more than one way to respect the national anthem, and the values this country claims to stand for.

John Stevenson

Niles