Taking a stand on a football field is not just limited to football players.
A dozen or so members of the East Carolina Marching Pirates kneeled during the national anthem, which they performed. Some of the protestors played their instruments while on one knee, while others didn’t perform at all.
Just feet frm the American flag, members of the @ECUBand kneel. Their right to do so. @ECUAthletics #ecuvsucf ☠️???????? pic.twitter.com/9PAypkliib
— Michael Aho (@ahomichael) October 1, 2016
The protest was not well received by the crowd, who booed the band during their halftime performance.
The ECU Band was boo'ed loudly during halftime of today's game. pic.twitter.com/iA2T21XDwd
— Pirate Radio (@pirateradio1250) October 1, 2016
What started as an individual’s protest has grown into a national movement. Starting with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, athletes across the country have joined in protesting racial injustice in the United States by sitting, kneeling or raising a fist in the air during the national anthem.
But the protest has reached far beyond the athletes.
Salute to the Howard University Cheerleaders for exercising their right to kneel during the national anthem. ✊???? pic.twitter.com/dgTk52QoXD
— Zachary Johnson (@ZachJ2019) September 17, 2016
Even before East Carolina made their protest, non-athletes have made their views known on the football field. Howard University cheerleaders took a knee during the national anthem. The Marching Pirates aren’t even the first band to take part in the protest. That honor goes to the Oakland Unified School District Honor Band, where most of its members took a knee near the end of the song.
ECU Chancellor Cecil Staton released this statement in response to the bands actions on the field.
Statement by #ECU chancellor Cecil Staton on the marching band members kneeling during the anthem. pic.twitter.com/KtZXvWtkSO
— Michael Prunka (@MichaelPrunka) October 1, 2016
Many may not agree with Kaepernick’s message or they way he is going about it, but his message is being received and conversations about racial injustice are happening. Young people like those in the East Carolina Marching Pirates are taking that message and further fanning the flames of discussion.
