A Louisiana high school promised to kick any students who didn’t stand during the national anthem off of sports teams, calling the protests a “disruption.”
“Parkway High School requires student athletes to stand in a respectful manner throughout the National Anthem during any sporting event in which their team is participating. Failure to comply will result in a loss of playing time and/or participation as directed by the head coach and principal. Continued failure to comply will result in removal from the team,” wrote Principal Waylon Bates in a letter sent to students and their parents on Thursday.
This after a weekend of protests in the NFL in which players took a knee and linked arms during the national anthem in solidarity after President Donald Trump slammed the protests last week during a rally.
“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, out, he’s fired. He’s fired,’” Trump said at the rally.
Since Trump’s comments, there has been a marked increase in the protests, however, with many standing (and kneeling) in solidarity.
And it has begun.
High schools are now following Trump’s order.
Will kick off any players who don’t stand during the National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/lfNWyW7z5f
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) September 28, 2017