“Want to stop riots? Play the national anthem. They’ll all sit down” is a jocular saying that has been printed on several images. The joke is a response to the 2016 U.S. national anthem protests (by NFL players and others), and the riots following the police shooting of Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina in September 2016 and the presidential election of Donald Trump in Noember 2016.
 
“I could stop the riots in Charlotte right now.  Just play the national anthem, they will then sit down” was posted on Twitter on September 21, 2016. “Want to stop riots??play the national anthem on loop they’ll all sit down” was posted on Twitter on September 22, 2016.
 
“Want to stop the riots?  Play the National Anthem, they will all sit down!!” was posted on Twitter on November 10, 2016, after the presidential election.
 
   
Wikipedia: 2016 U.S. national anthem protests
During 2016, several professional athletes protested during the United States (U.S.) national anthem. The protests began in the National Football League (NFL) after San Francisco 49ers quarterback (QB) Colin Kaepernick sat during the anthem, as opposed to the tradition of standing, before his team’s third preseason game of 2016. Kaepernick also sat during the first two preseason games, but he went unnoticed. The protests have generated mixed reactions and have since spread to other U.S. sports leagues.
 
The September 2016 police shootings of Terence Crutcher and Keith Lamont Scott bolstered support for his protest and concurrently silenced some critics. Kaepernick said of the Terence Crutcher shooting, “this is a perfect example of what this is about.”
   
Twitter
Brad C™
‏@Bradcalhoun
I could stop the riots in Charlotte right now.  Just play the national anthem, they will then sit down.
9:19 PM - 21 Sep 2016
 
Twitter
Mr. Gainz
‏@EzyMode
Wanna stop the riots in charlotte,north Carolina?Just play the national anthem and they will all sit down. #Charlotte #Carolina #riots
2:09 PM - 22 Sep 2016
 
Twitter
Fabrizio Dinitto
‏@fabriziodinitto
Want to stop riots??play the national anthem on loop they’ll all sit down
2:11 PM - 22 Sep 2016
 
Twitter
Tom Payne
‏@TomHPayne
Want to stop the riots? Play The National Anthem on a loop. They will all sit down.
2:53 PM - 22 Sep 2016
 
Twitter
SwampDrainerJohncST
‏@DrumrJon
Want to stop the riots?  Play the National Anthem, they will all sit down!!  #colinsanasswipe
3:15 PM - 10 Nov 2016
 
Twitter
Chris Gundrum
‏@chris_gundrum
To stop all the anti trump riots just play the National Anthem. All of them will just sit down😂😂😂
6:04 PM - 10 Nov 2016
 
Reddit
I know how to stop all these riots.
submitted November 11, 2016 by warbul
Play the national anthem, they’ll all sit down.
 
Reddit
How do you stop all the protests and riots?
submitted November 11, 2016 by astra118
Play the national anthem. They’ll all sit down