Coach Honors Kaepernick During Anthem, Players Participate – Here’s What Happened Next

Note: This story is being republished from September 2016.

In a move inspired by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, several members of a New Jersey high school football team chose to kneel during the national anthem.

The players, alongside their coaches, participated in this act at Woodrow Wilson High School—a school with a predominantly non-white student body—to draw attention to social and economic injustices, as reported by NBC News.

Initially, Coach Preston Brown planned to kneel by himself as a form of protest. He shared his awareness of the lesser-known third verse of the national anthem, which is rarely sung, and expressed that its historical context excludes people like him. The verse states, “No refuge could save the hireling and slave / From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave.”

Brown, reflecting on his experiences as an African-American student athlete in the South, felt that the current climate made it a fitting moment to take a stand. He stated, “I’m African-American, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, but I can’t ignore the differences I see just a few blocks away.”

After discussing his intentions with the team, some students chose to join him, resonating with his message. “I grew up in poverty, and many of these kids are facing similar challenges,” Brown noted. “There are significant social injustices and economic disparities in our community.”

While the Camden City School District emphasizes the importance of standing for the flag, they expressed support for Brown’s stance and commended the students for their involvement. Spokesman Brendan Lowe remarked, “Whether our students decide to stand, kneel, or express themselves in other ways, we are proud of their engagement with this critical social justice issue.”