Americans nationwide are boycotting the Super Bowl to stand with military, law enforcement

The Philadelphia Eagles square off against the New England Patriots on Sunday in Super Bowl 52. Most Americans will tune into the big game, which is the most watched television event each year.

But hundreds of thousands of others, even millions, won't be watching in protest.

What's going on?

People are planning to boycott the big game because of many players' ongoing national anthem protest, which began last season by former San Fransisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

According to a Fox News report, VFWs, American Legions, sports bars and other sports-watching venues nationwide will not be airing the Super Bowl "out of respect for veterans and law enforcement."

One veterans' club in New York posted a sign outside its building that read: "Closed Super Bowl Sunday in honor of our country, our flag, our veterans."

Meanwhile, a New Jersey sports bar that began an NFL blackout in November vowed to continue the boycott on Sunday. Woody's Roadside Tavern in Farmington closed their doors at 4 p.m. on Sunday, losing out on lots of potential business, all in an effort to stand in solidarity with the military and law enforcement.

A Knights of Columbus chapter in Longview, Texas, also cancelled its Super Bowl watching party.

"For the reasons that they were disgusted with protests with the national anthem and the flag during the seasons football games. The Knights of Columbus are a men’s charitable and religious organization. You watch football on television to get away from politics you see on the networks. And I'll be darn if they don't throw it right back in your face in a football game. I quit watching," the group's leader told KLTV-TV.

In recent days, a petition circulated online that garnered more than 200,000 signatures. The signers of that petition said they were boycotting the big game because of the national anthem protests.

A poll found last week that the number of Americans who plan to watch the Super Bowl dropped 14 percent compared to last year.