San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick greets fans after their 31-21 win against the San Diego Chargers during an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
High school football players across the US followed San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s lead and declined to stand for the national anthem Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
It appears that Kaepernick has started a movement with his silent protest during the national anthem during a pre-season game on August 26. Kaepernick said his “taking a knee” was to protest racial oppression and police brutality in the United States.
Woodrow Wilson players and coaches take a knee during national anthem pic.twitter.com/jqkWNW4neU
— Philip Anastasia (@PhilAnastasia) September 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/774460979602227200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Several members of Norfolk high school football team take knee during anthem #Virginia pic.twitter.com/oTZkQd3P0R
— Mona Kosar Abdi (@MonaAbdiWEWS) September 10, 2016
Following Colin Kaepernick's lead a Waggener player takes a knee during the national anthem @WHAS11 @WHAS11Sports pic.twitter.com/y7QI32v3qo
— Holden Kurwicki (@WHAS11Holden) September 9, 2016
Maury players take a stand by taking a knee during national anthem https://t.co/nPBnn8wpQg
— slipperybananapeel (@YoUng_GFX) September 10, 2016
High School Football Players take a knee during the #NationalAnthem
Respect #FirstAmendmentRights@Kaepernick7 #NFL pic.twitter.com/XdYD6nqDSr— Etan Thomas (@etanthomas36) September 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/774705101982277632
https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/774592111983353856
https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/774467361344716800
Meanwhile, Alabama’s Birmingham News reports:
The announcer of the Friday night football game at McKenzie High School in Alabama’s Butler County had something to say to those who may choose not to stand for the national anthem.
“If you don’t want to stand for the national anthem, you can line up over there by the fence and let our military personnel take a few shots at you since they’re taking shots for you,” the announcer said at the game versus Houston County High School, according to Facebook poster Denise Crowley-Whitfield.
Crowley-Whitfield said the crowd went “crazy cheering” following the speech.
The announcer was identified as Pastor Allen Joyner, of Sweet Home Baptist Church in McKenzie, according to Joyner’s relatives and friends, who also posted to Facebook and praised the statement.
Crowley-Whitfield’s post was shared more than 4,700 times and received more than 50 comments, all positive, before she deleted her Facebook account on Saturday afternoon.
A high school sports announcer in Alabama suggested National Anthem protesters should be shot at by the military. (Facebook screenshot)