“It’s very refreshing to see these young men and women stand up for what they believe in, and I hope this inspires some other teams and other individuals to do the same thing”.
Advertisement
“The student athletes said they wanted to create more social awareness of racial injustice in America”, coach Dan Appino said. “I think we’re doing a good job of remaining calm and dealing with it and we’re working through it together”. And I stood up with my hand over my heart and I applauded.
In the stands, Jay Curtis, 45, an American football fan, said: “If Kaepernick walked through a military hospital with people, black and white, missing limbs, then he’d soon realise he should stand up for the anthem”.
“As long as people are listening, and they know what I’m singing about, like, that’s all that matters”, she said. But as the Associated Press reported this week, some players have faced consequences, including suspension and harassment.
Preston Brown, football coach at Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden, took a knee during the anthem before his first game of the season.
One private school administrator threatened game and team suspensions if coaches or players protested the anthem.
Isham, who lives in Longview, Texas, said Kaepernick’s constitutional right to protest in the manner he has is beside the point. “Seattle Public Schools supports all students’ right to free speech”.
It’s a message that resonates across Camden, a predominantly African-American community and one of New Jersey’s poorest. “He exercised his constitutional rights without disturbing the school assembly and he is not being disciplined in any way by his actions”.
Advertisement
“I am not only the principal, but I am also a proud parent”, he said.
