Kansas state Rep. Joe Seiwert denounced on Facebook the actions of a woman who took a knee at mid-court to sing the national anthem before an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Seiwert, a Pretty Prairie Republican seeking re-election against Democrat Clifton Beck, of Wichita, commented under a photo of performer Denasia Lawrence and a headline that said, "I’m so sick of these anti-American blacks — f--- Black Lives Matter." The actual post didn’t delete letters from the offending word.

"Go back to where you claim home," Seiwert said on the Facebook thread. "So, if they don’t like it here, I believe that their freedom completely allows them to go wherever they believe is more fair and non-racist."

In an interview Tuesday, Seiwert said he didn’t view his remarks as racist. He said the intent was to stand up for the U.S. flag and to honor military service members who sacrificed for the country. People who don’t like their job get another, or get divorced when they are in a bad relationship, he said. He said he didn’t see the derogatory headline about Black Lives Matter until after he had posted to Facebook. Most of the reaction to his comments was positive, he said.

"I’m not a racist. I believe in freedom," he said. "It offends me when people disrespect the flag. If unhappy, move to somewhere where you’re happy."

Beck, Seiwert’s opponent, said the Facebook remarks reflected Seiwert’s previous conduct. Six years ago, Seiwert forwarded an email that asserted Muslims couldn’t be good Americans.

"It is absurd and offensive that Rep. Seiwert cannot differentiate between someone protesting their treatment in the United States versus protesting the United States," the Democratic nominee said. "Attitudes like this are what prevent communities coming together and allows for tensions that can result in racial biases and homegrown terrorists like we’ve seen recently in Kansas."

Beck said the way Black Lives Matter participants worked in collaboration with agencies that included the Wichita Police Department should be honored because it served to "build up our community and bridge that gap."

During Lawrence’s anthem protest Friday, she opened her jacket to reveal a shirt that read "Black Lives Matter." Her actions were a variation of protests that have punctuated U.S. sporting events in ways designed to highlight what activists believe to be unfair treatment of minorities by law enforcement officers.

Seiwert said in the interview that Americans disenchanted with their life could move to another state or, for example, Canada, Mexico or Europe.

Free speech rights shouldn’t be sacrificed simply because a person is running or serving in political office, Seiwert said. In the Facebook thread, Seiwert replied to a person who questioned why critics of Lawrence would challenge her right to protest.

"Am I supposed to give up all my freedom of speech when I’m running," Seiwert wrote.

During the 2015 session of the Legislature, Seiwert testified on behalf of a House bill that would have made it illegal for public college and university faculty in Kansas to use academic titles when contributing to newspaper opinion columns or letters to the editor.

Seiwert said he advocated for the bill, which didn’t pass, after a constituent complained it was unfair for employees of taxpayer-supported agencies to be "bashing legislators, legislative policy." He said at that time businesses such as John Deere and AT&T didn’t allow employees to use a company title when offering political commentary without management permission.

In 2010, Seiwert forwarded to about 40 people an email on a personal account that asserted Muslims couldn't be good Americans because each owed allegiance to Islam.

Seiwert has served in the Legislature since 2009 and currently represents Pretty Prairie, Yoder and Haven in Reno County, as well as Garden Plain and parts of Wichita and Goddard in Sedgwick County.