The familiar brass melody begins to ring through the speakers of the stadium, packed with thousands of silent fans. Some look down and witness teams locking arms in solidarity or kneeling together, while others see the teams standing for the anthem with a scarce few kneeling in protest. If you listen closely enough, you can hear disapproving “boos” or soft encouragements from one end of the stadium to the other.

Now approaching week six of the NFL season, athletes kneeling during the national anthem has become a trending phenomenon. The nation is currently divided on whether the movement is a form of free speech or disrespect towards the country.

This form of protest is not new, however. At the beginning of last year’s NFL season, former 49ers player Colin Kaepernick began to kneel during the national anthem and caused nationwide uproar.

Like Kaepernick, players this season are not kneeling in protest of the anthem or the country. They are kneeling to silently voice what they cannot say. Kaepernick protested shortly after the nationwide Black Lives Matter movement. He kneeled when Americans were witnessing the injustices against the minorities. Players now are protesting the same continuous mistreatment of minorities by kneeling or locking arms.

These NFL athletes are using their platform to spread a message. Whether only two to three athletes kneel before a game or an entire team does, the media covers it. These teams continue to protest because they know it is working. News publications report on it, civilians talk about it and the movement gains support. It’s a movement that is constantly making the nation think. Voices are being heard. Sides are being taken.

In a country where citizens have the right to voice their opinions on political matters without being prosecuted, the act of kneeling should not cause an outrage. It isn’t hate speech. It isn’t disregard of the anthem. It isn’t hate for the country. It’s a clever use of an earned platform. It’s a peaceful form of protest. It’s a silent scream that has the nation finally talking.