A Staten Island City Council candidate is not happy that his opponent Debi Rose has joined in solidarity with NFL players by taking a knee. NY1's Natalie Duddridge filed the following report.

City Councilwoman Debi Rose, kneeling in front of City Hall Wednesday with other Democrats, has her Republican opponent Mike Penrose upset.

"It's a tremendous disgrace to our veterans and people who have served in our military not to respect the flag," Penrose said.

Rose who is the incumbent in race for the North Shore council seat says she was showing solidarity with athletes across the country who have been demonstrating during the national anthem, protesting social injustices. 

But Penrose says Rose is only further dividing people in the borough.

"I think it was a missed opportunity for some unity amongst the people on Staten Island," said Penrose. "She kneels in protest, and I stand for country and unity in our community."

However, Rose did stand during the pledge of allegiance, she says, to show respect for her family members who have served, but kept her hands down.

In a statement she said, "I couldn't place my hand over my heart...because it's breaking, just as the promise of "liberty and justice for all" has been broken. This includes the millions of Americans who are suffering in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands."

Though there is mixed reaction from those we spoke to in the North Shore, one thing residents can agree on, is protesters need to be more clear on what cause they're standing or kneeling for.

"They need to get on the real issue of why they're taking a knee," said one Staten Island resident. "It doesn't mean they're being disrespectful to America, it's just that they're trying to stand for black rights."

"I really don't know why they started doing that//they should protest in different ways there's gotta be something more than just kneeling," said another Staten Island resident.

That's why, instead, Penrose says he would like to see Rose talk to North Shore constituents about how they can get involved in organizations that promote social change.