It is not only athletes who are waging peaceful protests against police brutality while showing their support for the Black Lives Matter movement by taking a knee for the national anthem.
The young son of Will & Grace star Debra Messing is also taking a stand the actress revealed on Instagram, recounting what happened when she and her 13-year-old Roman recently attended a New York Rangers game.
‘”Please stand for the Star Spangled Banner.” Son: “Mom, I want to sit down in protest. Can we do that?” Me: “Yes, honey. We can do that,”‘ wrote Messing.
She then added: ‘Who’s crying? I’m not crying. #BLM’
Proud mama: The Will & Grace actress, 49, says she was brought to tears when her son Roman, 13, asked if they could sit for the national anthem (Debra and Roman above)
Peaceful protest: The teenager asked his mother this while the two were attending a New York Rangers game over the holidays
In the accompanying photo Roman could be seen with his hand place over his heart in salute of the flag but sitting in his seat.
He was also still wearing his baseball cap for the anthem, though it was unclear if that was intentional and done on purpose as well or if the young teen simple forgot to take it off his head.
Messing did not show herself sitting during the anthem, or crying in response to her son’s decision to sit.
Response was divided, as it to be expected giving the fervor surrounding this debate.
Most of the notes were positive however, with a number of individuals who said they had military backgrounds or their family members were in the armed forced supporting Roman’s move.
Messing responded to one of these supporters in the comment section of her post.
‘God bless you! I am so moved that all the Comments from servicemen and servicewomen are so fully supportive of him peacefully protesting injustice and violence,’ wrote Messing.
‘The right to Speak is the earmark of a great Democracy, one that these service people have sacrificed so much to ensure stays strong. We sang out loud with our hands on our hearts, Thank you to you noble service people for your service and for speaking out on this feed.’
Fans speak: Opinion of Messing’s decision to let her son sit was divided, as has long been the case with this issue
There were also a large number of detractors, who also cited the military and armed forces while criticizing Messing and her son.
‘You teach your kid to respect a cop hating group that inspired the killing of police ?! You should be ashamed !! Teaching your son to hate his country and the police!’ wrote one man.
Given messing’s very vocal support of Hillary Clinton however, most of her followers were totally fine with her political leanings.
Fox News was very much not however, with a story on the network’s website opening with the line: ‘Debra Messing is proud of her son for not being proud of his country.’