Students are being threatened with punishment for not participating in rituals surrounding the national anthem or Pledge of Allegiance — and they are fighting back.
Since NFL 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat during the national anthem in August to protest oppression of people of color, many Americans, particularly professional athletes and students, have followed suit. But their constitutional right to engage in such gestures of dissent is not always being respected.
Threats from school administrators and teachers have put free speech advocates like the ACLU on high alert. At Lely High School, a public school in Naples, Florida, the principal told students that they would be removed from athletic events if they refused to stand during the national anthem — though he said the quote was misunderstood when the ACLU of Florida reached out.
“You will stand, and you will stay quiet. If you don’t, you are going to be sent home, and you’re not going to have a refund of your ticket price,” Lely High School Principal Ryan Nemeth told students.
“The Supreme Court ruled in 1943 that public schools may not constitutionally force students to salute the flag,” Lee Rowland, a First Amendment attorney who works with the ACLU, told The Intercept. “That ruling is crystal clear about a student’s right not to be compelled into patriotism by their government, and it is over 70 years old.”
The ruling that Rowland references came after many Jehovah’s Witnesses in the United States began to refuse to salute the flag in solidarity with their brethren in Nazi Germany who were being arrested for refusing to salute that country’s fascist flag.
The action by the American Jehovah’s Witnesses provoked a backlash, and a number of followers of the faith were persecuted for refusing to salute. In West Virginia, a family of Jehovah’s Witnesses brought suit after their children were sanctioned for doing so.
The court ruled in favor of the family. In his opinion, Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson wrote, “Compulsory unification of opinion achieves only the unanimity of the graveyard.”
Notwithstanding this history, students exercising their right are now being challenged.
In Worcester, Massachusetts, a high school football player was told that he would be forced to sit out a game for kneeling during the national anthem — since then, his suspension was terminated.
“I’m standing up for the injustice that happens to black people every day, not just cops killing black people. We are disrespected and mistreated everywhere we go on a daily basis because of our skin color and I’m sick of it,” Mike Oppong, a junior at Doherty Memorial High School, told a reporter.
A student at Lower Lake High School in Lower Lake, California, Leilani Thomas, was punished for the first time since she first began sitting out the Pledge of Allegiance in second grade.
Thomas, a member of the Native American Pomo Tribe, is protesting the United States’ systematic abuse of native peoples. After a teacher lowered her grade for sitting, the school moved Thomas to a class with a different teacher.
“[The teacher] told me I was being disrespectful and I was pretty mad,” Leilani told ABC 10. “She was being disrespectful to me also, saying I was making bad choices, and I don’t have the choice to sit during the pledge.”
Students at private schools do not enjoy the same constitutional protections. The Diocese in Camden, New Jersey, which oversees six local private Catholic schools, will punish student athletes who do not stand during the national anthem by suspending them for two games. In a letter, the organization wrote, “The best approach is helping our young people understand that blood was sacrificed so that we all can enjoy the gifts of our faith and our country. However, let me be clear. We are not public institutions and free speech in all of its demonstrations, including protests is not a guaranteed right.”
At least one student at a public school, Shemar Cooper, was grabbed by his teacher when he sat during the Pledge of Allegiance. Cooper, a 15-year-old student at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, Illinois, said that a teacher tried to pull him out of his seat during the pledge.
“America doesn’t respect blacks,” he told WGN News. “Until they stop killing us, I’m not going to stand up.” The teacher has since been punished.
Some students, like Kaepernick himself, have received death threats. Eleven-year-old Jaelun Parkerson of Beaumont, Texas, received threats after he led his football team in kneeling during the national anthem. “It just makes me sad and scared,” he told ABC13.
Local police and the NAACP are investigating lynching threats in Brunswick, Ohio, where a high school football player named Rodney Axon Jr. was targeted after kneeling during the national anthem, according to Fox 8.
Although I understand the message that Colin Kapernick is portraying while he kneels for the national anthem, I do not think his actions set a good example to students. We, as a country, need to respect the national anthem that symbolizes our freedom. Leo Uzcategui a Navy Veteran said, “’I was in the Navy and I saw men and women bleed and die for this flag,’”(Tribune Service News, para ). Men and women have fought and died for our country’s freedom. Although Kapernick’s intentions are not to offend our soldiers, the lack of respect for our country portrayed in his actions might offend people who have helped fight for our freedom or those who help keep our country protected. Colin Kapernick is not giving our country a solution on how we should go about approaching racism in the future. Instead, he is drawing more public attention to himself and teaching our children that it is fine to disrespect our nation as long as they have a reason. Although America is not a perfect country we are a country whose citizens have the most amount of freedom. Allan Erickson, a journalist of 11 years tackling political topics, as well as a speaker and published author on freedom, stated his views on America. “Through discipline and hard work, an individual can prosper and enjoy freedom unknown to 99.9% of humans who’ve ever lived. The individual is free to pursue any dream or ambition, and all this is because we have economic freedom supported by a governing structure…” (Erickson, para 1-2). I acknowledge what the author of the article is saying and I believe there is truth behind it. Students should not be given harsh punishments for kneeling during the flag because it trumps over their rights as United States citizens and might make them fear ever standing up for themselves in the future. However, students need to understand why we stand for the national anthem and they need to recognize that we are a fortunate country, who has an immense amount of freedom.
It is extremely disrespectful that you presume to speak for “our soldiers.” The military undoubtedly includes SOME people who would agree with you, but it ALSO includes many intelligent people who agree with Kaepernick (and these students).
Furthermore, it is both offensive AND stupid to argue: People died for Americans’ freedom; therefore Americans shouldn’t feel free to stand up for what they know is true, and what they know is just.
In addition, it is truly grotesque to suggest that if an individual can’t singlehandedly fix America – by “giving our country a solution” to America’s racist disregard for human life – then he should shut up and pretend everything is fine.
Instead of trying to ‘correct’ people who are more intelligent and more socially responsible than you are, try LEARNING something from them.
Can’t help wondering whether the six Catholic schools in New Jersey receive any federal funding? If so, if they will not adhere to the Bill of Rights and free speech liberties those funds should be cut off!
I’m pretty sure that even private schools can’t break the law. While the Constituion does apply to the government, the laws that descend from it are still applicable to any entity or person.
To wit: you can’t enslave a person in a private school (except mentally, I suppose).
They are probably fine as long as there is no public related punishment, like calling the police. They probably can get kicked out or whatever since the school is private and can make their own rules and regulations for membership to a certain extent.
Keep Kneeling Keep Sitting that song does not pertain to US..
U.S. laws regarding the national anthem and the flag:
Below is a link to a document published by the US Senate in 2008. The section about the national anthem is identical to that published on numerous other sites including The Cornell Law School and FindLaw . The bottom line is that the law doesn’t require anything around the national anthem. It uses only the word “should” rather than “shall” or “must” and there are no penalties for anything. The only “shalls” have to do with the flag and there are very few and no penalties there either. Check it out and then go back to moping about how Colin Kaepernick is spoiling your avoidance of anything real in favor of a childish obsession with the spectacle of grown men beating each other senseless.
http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30243.pdf
These young people talk about not being respected. Respect is something you earn from others. It is hard to respect someone who wears their pants down to their knees with their underwear hanging out the top. Respect yourself first and others may follow.
” It is hard to respect someone who wears their pants down to their knees with their underwear hanging out the top. ”
that is a really silly criterion for according respect. dirtbags in suits and ties were responsible for enron, worldcom, the subprime mortgage crisis, and so on. observers can’t tell anything meaningful about whether someone is worthy of respect based on their attire.
Have you really said this?
You are a repulsive example of mindless conformity, and a brilliant illustration of the fact that conformity is an impediment to intelligence.
1) These students DO respect themselves. That is what they are demonstrating.
2) People DO respect these students. If you know any people, ask one.
I just refuse to go to events where the pledge or anthem are sung . I don’t like to be a part of something bigger when the majority of the people attending are so rigid and take offense so easily. I will just go to yoga class, visit the neighborhood bar , join a hiking club, do volunteer work at a museum, plant a community garden, etc…such where the indoctrination is not taking place.
The Second Amendment folks who have long claimed that those who practice the Second defend those who practice the First can now put their money where their mouths are, come out with their guns, and defend the free speech of anyone who refuses to stand for the National Anthem.
Should we hold our breaths for this to happen?
We need to get real about living in The Matrix of racism in this country and face the enormous cost in lives, healthcare dollars, our reputation abroad and the health of EVERY American. Racism is a thought error that separates us from our own humanity and that alone causes stress. Join us! http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/racism-meets-criteria.fb52?source=c.fb&r_by=16228964
Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) predicted the end of the world, IN WRITING, numerous times. Not once did they come true. They truly are known for their ‘False Predictions’ the world over.
JWs are taught that they alone are TRUE Christians and that all other people not JW will soon be destroyed. This is no exaggeration.
JWs will allow their own children TO DIE rather than accept a life saving blood transfusion even in severe medical emergencies. It has already happened THOUSANDS of times!
Just like this mother died unnecessarily! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/shropshire/7078455.stm
And now her husband has no wife and her two new twins have no mother. And all for what?
Or this teenager that also DIED: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/8690785.stm
This is very simple. JW’s NEEDLESSLY die for this sorry blood policy today.
From the same organization that has an entire 100 + year history of similar bad and embarrasing policies.
As a 15 year active JW and zealous person for Jehovah (and an elder) here is my own story: http://exjehovahswitnessforum.yuku.com/topic/922#.USEl4aWhDHh
JWs used to forbid Vaccinations and Organ Transplants (calling a life saving transplant “Cannibalism”) for a combined 33 years.
JWs enforce extreme shunning for any member that decides to leave their religion or who commits a sin without showing enough repentance in front of the elders.
Families have been devastated because of these harsh shunning policies. I have literally seen parents cut off all ties with their children solely because the kid did not want to remain a JW but went in another direction.
Even the ex-JWs who leave the religion on their own, who are 100 percent truthful, sincere, love God, pay their taxes, help others and more are still SHUNNED by all current JW’s and marked as godless, proud, sinning apostates. And the Awake magazine recently literally called them “mentally diseased”.
And MANY contemplate suicide because the penalties of losing everything are simply TOO MUCH TO TAKE.
But an honest question is: Why do so many JWs leave after being one time followers?
As I eventually found out, the JW religion did say, IN WRITING, that the end would come in 1914 and then again in 1925. Was Jehovah directing all that? 1914 and 1925 came and went! They were proven false predictions. Period.
They also said the end very likely would happen in 1975 and even commended (in the watchtower) witnesses for selling their houses and pioneering because of it.
But 1975 came and went!
They also said (for many decades) that the end would come before the generation born in 1914 passed away. In fact up until 1995 it was written inside each Awake magazine cover. Only they then had to change that meaning as well (including the Awake masthead) because that generation CAME AND WENT TOO.
I was a JW (and elder) for 15 years before leaving because of the blood and fractions policy 10 yrs ago. Today I’m shunned by all JWs simply because I left the religion.
Most JWs simply accept everything the Watchtower teaches and says as “food from God”. Just like I did.
Most believe God has chosen the Watchtower Society as his “channel”, which provides food from God Himself to their religion and ONLY their religion.
But an honest look at the facts of the JW religion shows God has not chosen the Watchtower for anything!
Take a LOOK: http://www.freeminds.org/history/part2.htm
ALL FROM THEIR OWN LITERATURE WITH DATES & PAGES TO SEE FOR YOURSELVES!!!
Pages and pages of mistakes, embarrassments, false predictions, medical disasters, weird science, doctrinal failures and more for over 100 years now!
Obviously ‘GOD’ would not get things wrong like this. Obviously ‘GOD’ did not provide bad food like that for their entire history.
But most JW’s have no idea about these things. They’re told to stay away from anything critical of their religion.
For example: Was God’s spirit with JW’s when they said Organ Transplants were a “conscience matter” in 1961?
OR,
Was God”s spirit with WT when they THEN SAID Organ Transplants are same as “Cannibalism” in 1967and forbid them?
OR, was God’s spirit with the Watchtower Society when they THEN SAID Organ Transplants are NOT the same as cannibalism in 1980 and now allow them?
Was God behind all those changes each time? Did ((GOD)) get all those things wrong each time? How many people DIED by refusing kidney transplants for example only later on to be told they’re OK to have now?
Which is why some end up taking their lives due to losing their family, or feel compelled to speak out about it, like me right here and now.
And now, because I walked away, JWs are demanded to shun you for life (including your very own family).
Which is why if I can help some honest hearted people by sharing my own story as a warning it’s truly is a worthwhile thing to do.
Examine, examine, examine and ask as many questions as you can.
Vinny
WTF does this have to do with students and the pledge? Get a life.
Thank you, Karen. You brat me to it.
Catholic Diocese, Camden, NJ: “We are not public institutions and free speech in all of its demonstrations, including protests is not a guaranteed right.”
Coming from an organization that ignores the rights of children to not be molested by their priests, this statement rings as hollow as their avowed patriotism.
“We are not public institutions and free speech in all of its demonstrations, including protests is not a guaranteed right.”
Incorrect. Freedom of speech is a human right; you own yourself, your thoughts and actions. Your human right of self-ownership cannot be taken from you, even if you choose to deny your own human right or give a right away.
The Constitution, and other protection documents, do NOT grant human rights, as both positively and negatively addressed (seen and unseen). The Constitution, The Declaration, and the Articles of Confederation were written to protect your human rights, specifically from governments and institutions that use force in any attempt to deny your human rights.
it’s ALL about OWNERSHIP.
especially public ownership of public property including the public currency and the public economy and the public resources.
wallstreet thieves dont like that shared thing.
Can you say brainwashing? This pledging and playing the hymn at any given opportunity always gave me the creeps. It is quite interesting that the same people who would like to force everyone to follow through with this indoctrination, probably would also claim that the US are the land of the free.
Also, how does being in a private school makes someone loose their inalienable constitutional rights?
Roger Goodell fails again? Rather amazing that the courage and bravado of Colin Kaepernick is not recognised as a quality of personal strength. Does Roger really prefer gutless weaker players? Do NFL teams really want robotoids on the field? Says me the team with the most *take a knee* should be favored to make the superbowl. Meanwhile Roger cannot fire himself.
https://youtu.be/Q2BfqDUPL1I
Any usa person who forces anyone to be patriotic is peddling a regime worst than all the kosher totalitarian regimes combines and it is a fact the usa anthem is racist chanting their hearts against slaves who freed themselves with the pledge of the uk-monarchy not to return them to white racists land owners under any circumstance. Therefore, any person in the usa forcing anyone to stand up is going against democracy and the constitutional statues of the rule oflaw, simple. “The Supreme Court ruled in 1943 that public schools may not constitutionally force students to salute the flag,” Lee Rowland, a First Amendment attorney who works with the ACLU, told The Intercept. “That ruling is crystal clear about a student’s right not to be compelled into patriotism by their government, and it is over 70 years old.”
Any deluded worker within the entire usa school district who engages in perpetrating harrasing any kid or studen for not reciting or for not standing is violating the constitutional statues of the rule of law and making of his/her love for patriotism a farse. – Alejandro Grace Ararat.
actually, forcing or coercing someone to do something against their will is a violation of their freedom of movement and constitutes an UNLAWFUL ARREST.
what ever happened to plain and simple?
For the most part education is little more than memorizing data and following orders to uphold and perpetuate a belief, the status quo, however wrong-headed, abusive and racist that is. Teachers are supposed to be mentors and guides, not drill masters preparing future’s fascists.
When I refused to do things like this, it was accepted and respected as my choice. My ‘punishment’ was having to write an essay explaining why not and debating it with everyone who chose to do it.
Keep on kneeling! I”ll bet most that stand have no real understanding of why. The Black Power Salute was punished and castigated yesterday, today it is remembered as an iconic moment in the Civil Rights movement.
A REAL PROTEST would be to turn your back to the flag while listening to NWA on your ipod…Not locking arms like you’re in a musical, Not taking a knee while facing the flag (and listening to the song written by a racist).
Yeah, tough guys in the NFL locking arms like they’re in a musical was pathetic.
A REAL PROTEST would be to turn your back to the flag and endure the unexpected consequence of being tortured for doing so, and doing it again and enduring the expected torture, then again and again… for more than a decade.
A “REAL PROTEST” would actually be for them to say they aren’t going to go out and provide entertainment and enjoyment to people until they start taking steps to address the injustices. That would actually threaten their jobs & it would sacrifice a certain amount of income.
I honestly don’t really see what difference there actually is between the option you give and what is already being done. I mean both are designed to raise the issues among the public consciousness and hopefully lead to some positive changes. Which the current way this has achieved this
A society should strive to educate its children; not train them.
Regarding ‘teachers’ who feel entitled to falsify grades, in order to punish students for being MORE INTELLIGENT AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE than the teachers those students have been burdened with: Teachers like that should be fired, and never be allowed to work with children again.
Regarding ‘teachers’ who feel entitled to sabotage students’ athletic aspirations, in order to punish students for being MORE INTELLIGENT AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE than the teachers those students have been burdened with: Teachers like that should be fired, and never be allowed to work with children again.
Regarding ‘teachers’ who feel entitled to use physical force to impose their will on students, in order to punish, intimidate, humiliate and implicitly threaten students for being MORE INTELLIGENT AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE than the teachers those students have been burdened with: Teachers like that should be fired, jailed (for long enough to learn the difference between being right and being physically intimidating), and never be allowed to work anywhere near children again.
Regarding principals who feel entitled to explicitly threaten students AND steal from students AND use physical force to impose their will on students, in order to punish, intimidate and humiliate students for being MORE INTELLIGENT AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE than the principals those students have been burdened with: Principals like that should be fired, jailed (for long enough to learn the difference between being right and being physically intimidating), and never be allowed to work anywhere near children again.
On another note: The fact that, “students at private schools do not enjoy the same constitutional protections,” is one of many reasons why not a penny of public funding should ever go to a private school.
I have nothing but ADMIRATION and RESPECT for these BRAVE, INTELLIGENT, PRINCIPLED STUDENTS.
It sounds to me like some little girl has an ax to grind.
Also, no public money goes to private schools…hence the name “private school.”
That isn’t true. Many kids get vouchers that use public funds, that should be going to public schools, in order to go to a private (and often religious) schools. There are several states that do so.
While I am sure there is some private school out there that operates on its own, others do receive federal funding. The Supreme Court ruled in 1968 with the majority opinions by “Everson and Allen helped outline a permissible means for the government to support religious schools. The rule derived from these decisions is that the government may provide aid to religious schools as long as the aid is (1) secular in content, such as funding for bus subsidies or secular textbooks; (2) generally available to students in both public and private schools; and (3) primarily directed toward students rather than toward schools.” (Pew Research Forum)
This is true if it’s a for-profit institution. If it’s tax exempt, then they are in fact receiving public aid.
“Has an ax to grind?”
The only “little girl” referenced in the article, or in my comment, was the Native American student who justifiably refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, and whose malicious teacher sabotaged her grades. Was your imbecilic defamation, meant to be a slur against her?
Conversely, was your imbecilic defamation meant to call ME a “little girl,” and accuse ME of having an “ax to grind?” Like a ‘grudge’ against the coercive, abusive, and sometimes violent, force used against children to discourage critical thinking, discourage displays of integrity, and enforce mindless conformity?
You haven’t made it clear which manner of imbecile you were aiming to be.
If it’s the former manner of imbecile: You’re a monster.
If it’s the latter manner of imbecile: That kind of “ax to grind” is also referred to as having a moral compass, or a conscience, or a sense of right and wrong, or a sense of decency.
Other people have already corrected your other lie. (Well done, other people.)
Democracy has been redefined!
More accurately, Democracy is being eroded at a faster speed than ever before.
The threats to protesting students and athletes are glaring examples of: “Patriotism is the refuge of the scoundrel”.
“However, let me be clear. We are not public institutions and free speech in all of its demonstrations, including protests is not a guaranteed right.”
The same people arguing for freedom for religion. Typical. The opponents of freedom have no greater friend than the Catholic Church.
“However, let me be clear. We are not public institutions and free speech in all of its demonstrations, including protests is not a guaranteed right.”
The same people arguing for freedom of religion. Opponents of freedom have no greater friend than the Catholic Church.
Where there is thought, there is hope. Imagine people actually insisting on no hypocracy, and refusing to pretend we are a nation practicing our founding ideology of justice and equality. Maybe we will live our principles yet.
I have it on good authority that there is a passage in the Gospels in which Jesus tells people not to make a show of praying in public, but to pray to God privately. If such public displays are not necessary for God, why are they necessary for gestures of patriotism? (N.B. I take no position on the existence or non-existence of any god.)
Why must the National Anthem be used in athletic or other competitions? What connection or purpose is there?
Why must those who have already recited the Pledge of Allegiance continue to recite it repeatedly? It has no expiration clause. Does not the repeated recitation make a mockery of it? Cheapen it?
So the Intellectually disinclined of Ohio have chosen Lynching as Punishment for lack of Patriotism ? They were blessed with the simple spelling of their State remaining Simple.
Disgusting
“The best approach is helping our young people understand that blood was sacrificed so that we all can enjoy the gifts of our faith and our country. However, let me be clear. We are not public institutions and free speech in all of its demonstrations, including protests is not a guaranteed right.”
Maybe they could help our younger people understand specifically whose blood was sacrificed, that might be a more honest approach.
quite the hypocrisy to show the connection between the 1775 revolt against the British Currency empire and the wonderfulness of being robbed by wallstreet and forced into invading Iraq and being killed by the fraud of Cheney and Bush. Hard to call that crap a reason to be grateful and celebrate when the America the founders died for has been robbed by the same minded thieves they revolted against in 1775.
but do try….
The police state is being seen for the evil it is.
We do not support genocide.
We are not the slave of wallstreet zionistas.
We are independent americans with freedom of Life Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness.
We will not fight “your wars”.
PROTESTING IS AN AMERICAN RIGHT. #BDS
Well said.
In my humble opinion protesting doesn’t accomplish anything. Yes Kaep started a dialogue but look at where it has lead us. The divisions are much more stark.
We need unity of conscience and on humanitarian principles that are universal. America doesn’t have a monopoly on either.
Yes black people are killed unjustly and disproportionately and so are minorities but numerically the number of white people killed is much higher. We need to all stand together white, black Latino and everyone in between.
Muslims are killed world over. And all we can point to is the terrorists.
Until we stand for truth, justice and equality on the basis of our shared humanity and conscience we will continue to fight each other and squabble over the differences and those who benefit from our divisions will continue to benefit from it.
protesting doesnt accomplish ANYTHING?
b b b but it DOES recognize ownership, summon personal strength, gathers allies, provides focus, direction and is the foundation of real change.
That’s a lot of good.
Until we stand for truth, justice and equality…
that will take some protesting because the sadists in congress who pretend to represent America really represent the golden sacks.
My flag continues to fly upside down.
A country that maims, kills and tortures innocent civilians.
Using military grade RF Weapons covertly, with the courage of a drone operator.
> Thomas, a member of the Native American Pomo Tribe
Seriously? They’re punishing a native American for not standing up for the pledge of allegiance? Irony much?
These peoples had their lands, their wealth, their freedom and their lives taken and now they’re being punished for not saying ‘thanks’?! Is history still a class in schools these days?
Reading about how teachers and schools react to students’ free speech actions is just an example of the level of teacher and administration in American schools. How can these kids get a good education when the teachers and staff are not badly informed themselves. When I see things like this I am so pleased I was able to go to school with well educated teachers and administration. We didn’t get blamed for non-offenses back then. Of course my school taught evolution too when most did not.
They even play the national anthem at AKC conformation events where I live. About a year after 9.11, when it was clear that we were neither “the land of the free” nor “home of the brave,” I began turning my back to the flag during that part of the anthem. Whoa, Nellie! Who knew breeders, spectators, and dog handlers could take such offense? And, that was before I knew about the third stanza. At our highly militarized sporting events, “disrepecting” the anthem takes fortitude, and can only be done by those who are both free and brave, in a real sense of those words. Given my experience at an ‘effin’ dog show, I can well imagine death threats at a football game.
Some stooges in America have gotten really carried away with that anthem stuff. Maybe these types are trying to condition our children to believe and obey whatever the pimped out media and politicians say, like WMD.
Truly the people who can stand up to the lies and the bullshit the gov, msm and wallstreet hand out are the real Americans.
Let’s write our own anthem.