High School Football Players Commanded to Stand During Anthem — Or Face Team Suspension
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https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/high-school-football-players-commanded-205709181.html
Last weekend, the conversation around the NFL centered not on the scores, but the national anthem. While former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started his demonstration against police brutality last August, President Trump's recent condemnation of athletes who follow suit prompted more headlines than ever before.
"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a b*tch off the field right now, out, he's fired,'" Trump remarked at an Alabama rally last Friday, before following up on Twitter.
The statements prompted even more NFL players to demonstrate, with all 14 Sunday games involving some form of protest. The Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers (with the exception of Alejandro Villanueva) all chose to remain in their respective locker rooms for the pregame ceremony.
While other athletes lock arms or raise fists, Kaepernick and his supporters specifically choose to kneel because "it's a respectful gesture." "I remember thinking our posture was like a flag flown at half-mast to mark a tragedy," 49ers safety Eric Reid wrote in the New York Times.
Now, the debate's trickled down to high schools across the country as some attempt to halt potential protests altogether.
Yesterday, a Louisiana principal at Bossier Parish's Parkway High School sent a memo to all student athletes and parents mandating participation. "Parkway High School requires student athletes to stand in a respectful manner throughout the National Anthem," Principal Waylon Bates wrote. "Failure to comply will result in loss of playing time and/or participation as directed by the head coach and principal."
Bossier Parish's superintendent Scott Smith also confirmed to the Huffington Post that the district is encouraging officials at 34 schools to issue similar statements. He added that their location near Barksdale Air Force Base gave additional reason to "pay homage to the American flag." The move soon attracted attention online, driving the heated social media discussion even further.
Bossier Parish isn't alone. Three Catholic high schools in Long Island, New York, issued a similar warning yesterday. But if student athletes at public schools choose to protest, legal precedent supports their right.
Back in 1943, the Supreme Court ruled in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette that public schools cannot mandate participation in the Pledge of Allegiance and other patriotic ceremonies. "No official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion," the decision states. "If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us."
Another Supreme Court case - 1969's Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District - also confirmed public school students' First Amendment right to political protest specifically, Slate reports.
Given the court's decisions, other public schools are issuing memos re-affirming students' right to kneel. "If students choose to engage in non-disruptive demonstrations (like kneeling) during the Anthem, we are recommending that you allow them to do so," advised Assistant Superintendent Kevin Shibley in a letter to principals in Pasco County, Florida. Pennsylvania administrators in Lehigh Valley sent a similar message as well.
So far, student athletes across the country - including Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Oregon and Texas - have engaged in the peaceful protests. But with football season just beginning, it's unlikely the national conversation will die down soon.
During the national anthem, 18 Evanston players took to one knee, while one player sat down. A New Trier junior was the only member of his team to take a knee.
Last weekend, the conversation around the NFL centered not on the scores, but the national anthem. While former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started his demonstration against police brutality last August, President Trump's recent condemnation of athletes who follow suit prompted more headlines than ever before.
"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a b*tch off the field right now, out, he's fired,'" Trump remarked at an Alabama rally last Friday, before following up on Twitter.
The statements prompted even more NFL players to demonstrate, with all 14 Sunday games involving some form of protest. The Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers (with the exception of Alejandro Villanueva) all chose to remain in their respective locker rooms for the pregame ceremony.
While other athletes lock arms or raise fists, Kaepernick and his supporters specifically choose to kneel because "it's a respectful gesture." "I remember thinking our posture was like a flag flown at half-mast to mark a tragedy," 49ers safety Eric Reid wrote in the New York Times.
Now, the debate's trickled down to high schools across the country as some attempt to halt potential protests altogether.
Yesterday, a Louisiana principal at Bossier Parish's Parkway High School sent a memo to all student athletes and parents mandating participation. "Parkway High School requires student athletes to stand in a respectful manner throughout the National Anthem," Principal Waylon Bates wrote. "Failure to comply will result in loss of playing time and/or participation as directed by the head coach and principal."
Bossier Parish's superintendent Scott Smith also confirmed to the Huffington Post that the district is encouraging officials at 34 schools to issue similar statements. He added that their location near Barksdale Air Force Base gave additional reason to "pay homage to the American flag." The move soon attracted attention online, driving the heated social media discussion even further.
Bossier Parish isn't alone. Three Catholic high schools in Long Island, New York, issued a similar warning yesterday. But if student athletes at public schools choose to protest, legal precedent supports their right.
Back in 1943, the Supreme Court ruled in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette that public schools cannot mandate participation in the Pledge of Allegiance and other patriotic ceremonies. "No official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion," the decision states. "If there are any circumstances which permit an exception, they do not now occur to us."
Another Supreme Court case - 1969's Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District - also confirmed public school students' First Amendment right to political protest specifically, Slate reports.
Given the court's decisions, other public schools are issuing memos re-affirming students' right to kneel. "If students choose to engage in non-disruptive demonstrations (like kneeling) during the Anthem, we are recommending that you allow them to do so," advised Assistant Superintendent Kevin Shibley in a letter to principals in Pasco County, Florida. Pennsylvania administrators in Lehigh Valley sent a similar message as well.
So far, student athletes across the country - including Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Oregon and Texas - have engaged in the peaceful protests. But with football season just beginning, it's unlikely the national conversation will die down soon.
During the national anthem, 18 Evanston players took to one knee, while one player sat down. A New Trier junior was the only member of his team to take a knee.
Comments
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breaking them while they young
smdh -
letting them know they dont have rights
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the whole team should kneel
they're gonna suspend the whole team? nah -
I wish they all sat out the biggest game and said ? you..
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If I was in high school today, I'd kneel as soon as they told me I would be suspended.
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the whole team should kneel
they're gonna suspend the whole team? nahIf I was in high school today, I'd kneel as soon as they told me I would be suspended.playmaker88 wrote: »I wish they all sat out the biggest game and said ? you..
All their parents should be telling them this on top of that inevitable lawsuit -
isnt it some where in the constitution that you can protest?
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Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
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CAC'S think they ? . Sue them RACISTS fuckas and make em loose every dam thang they got. Stop man handling the fragile minds of our youth. They'd try and railroad a black coach for this. They know the jig is up all over the country. We'll never be silent again. Every rock has it's chipping point and we're just about there.
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I didn't stand for the pledge in school since junior high.
My parents had my back on that ? too - and my pops was military.
That's my word it's a bunch of fake ass patriots out here, just like Trump, so patriotic the MF dodged the draft. -
Well at least they'll graduate without brain damage
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http://www.chron.com/sports/highschool/amp/High-school-football-kicked-off-team-anthem-kneel
Two Victory & Praise Christian Academy football players were kicked off the team for protesting during the national anthem at a game Friday night.
Cedric Ingram-Lewis raised his fist while cousin Larry McCullough knelt during the anthem ahead of the team's game against Providence Classical. -
What if it's against your religion to stand for the pledge? So now the schools get to force you what to believe in?
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Man FOH
I got suspended every year in high school
I wouldnt give a ? -
21st Century Fascism is here.
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If ? would address why the kneeling is happening in the first place instead of getting in their feelings, then more people would stand. But nah. This is why people are full of ? , they don't give a ? about anyone else.
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What if it's against your religion to stand for the pledge? So now the schools get to force you what to believe in?
I grew up a Jehovahs witness and never stood up and would dare them to do something about it.. My dad would tear in they ass.. Lol -
texasdaking88 wrote: »
Ay yo why you ? always knocking on ? doors,and ? ? Y'all just can't send out some flyers -
What if it's against your religion to stand for the pledge? So now the schools get to force you what to believe in?
I see what you did there