Benson said Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the national anthem has created a “unique moment”.
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A couple of weeks ago, San Francisco 49er backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick made a decision to take a stand… by sitting. High school administrators and coaches are left to juggle the right of free speech with keeping order among their young charges. “Whether our students choose to stand, kneel, or otherwise, we’re proud of their engagement with what is more broadly a very important social justice issue”. He said diocesan schools have always had a policy “to show respect and honor for God and country”.
The protests have also spread to colleges and beyond the male-dominated realm of the NFL – three female West Virginia University Institute of Technology volleyball players fell to their knees during the playing of the national anthem and pledged their support to Kaepernick’s protest. “We let them make decisions on their own with the information that they have”.
“One thing we pride ourselves on is we have open and honest conversations about what is going on in this society”, Thomas said.
Edwards said he has spoken to Kaepernick about how discussions across the country would help ensure the quarterback’s protest leads to change. No one is focusing on the game. It’s a powerful statement, one that can not in any way be verified or quantified unless ratings were to drop by half … which, considering the nation’s ongoing love affair with football, is a highly dubious prospect at best. An increasing number of young athletes have joined him in his protest, and the images have been shared thousands of times on social media. He said it was a gesture against injustice and police brutality. Brown’s bosses with the school district expressed support for the flag as well as the right for Brown and his players to kneel, calling it “a personal issue”.
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A new Yahoo Sports/YouGov survey indicates that Americans remain deeply divided about the ongoing national anthem protests in the NFL, with 44 percent of fans claiming they would actually stop watching the NFL if the protests continue.
