Texas State Students' Thoughts on National Anthem Protests

By Kayla Darensbourg

kmd130@txstate.edu

SAN MARCOS - Two Texas State students and other members of the community shared their views on campus about the National Anthem protests issues on Tuesday. 

Most students and faculty were in agreeance that Kaepernick’s nonviolent act was the best way to protest his beliefs and take a stand against racial injustice.

Kendria Rhodes

Kendria Rhodes, a 21-year-old student from Dallas, Texas, described her understanding of the National Anthem protests as people were kneeling due to the injustice of African Americans. When she was asked her opinion of the issue, Rhodes responded that she feels like everyone has the right to voice their own opinions.

"Honestly, I feel like we are given free reign." Rhodes said. "Everyone has a choice in life, and if that’s how he wanted to protest, even other people in the U.S. that want to protest in that way, I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with it because it’s not a violent protest.”

Rhodes concluded she would handle this situation with allowing people to kneel or protest in any way that is nonviolent.

  

“Shushing people and fining them isn’t going to work because at the end of the day there is always going to be somebody that opposes against what you believe in. It's okay for them to have their voice, speak up and say I’m not okay with that" 

Blake Tulloch

Blake Tulloch, a 22-year-old Geography major from Georgetown, Texas, also had much to say about his stance on the protests, especially in regard to his feelings about the NFL's response.

“The NFL is trying to stop people from protesting, by saying we don’t agree with any of these actions," Tulloch said. "So, I don’t like them trying to silence peoples’ protests.”

Tulloch explains that since the NFL is a private corporation, and not the government, the NFL has the right to say we don’t agree with this.

  

“It's a two-edge sword really, where you can agree with what they’re protesting, but you also need to understand the NFL is private corporation and they have their own rules."

 

 

Jamie Bouzard

Jaime Bouzard, a campus minister and University College faculty member, described his understanding of the protests as players choosing to kneel rather than stand during the anthem to point out that “ideals in the anthem aren't in favor of African Americans and that men are dying at the hand of the police."

According to Bouzard, Kaepernick’s act was “courageous, appropriate and profoundly American." In comparison, the NFL’s response was “cowardly, shortsighted and greedy. It's fueled by capitalist greed and an absence of social justice."

Bouzard claimed he would have respected the action Kaepernick took, and he sees no reason to threaten a fine.

Diane Cunningham

Diane Cunningham is a retired law enforcement worker from Chicago, Illinois. Cunningham understands that Kaepernick and other players knelt for the mistreatment of black men in the inner city, their arrest and their lifestyles.

“It's not like it's a Nazi kneeling for their cause,” Cunningham said. “He isn't hurting anyone, it's a peaceful form of protest. I don't understand why people are so offended over it." 

For more information over the National Anthem Protests, check out one of these links.

• https://www.sbnation.com/2016/9/11/12869726/colin-kaepernick-national-anthem-protest-seahawks-brandon-marshall-nfl
• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nfl-players-huddle-owners-over-national-anthem-protests-n811651
• https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/oct/19/roy-moore/it-against-law-nfl-players-kneel-national-anthem-r/

Texas State responds to Kaepernick controversy

By Emily Schulte

ees88@txstate.edu

Colin Kaepernick received mixed responses after he kneeled during the National Anthem to protest police brutality and the oppression of minority groups in America. 

Mariah Dismuke

Antonio Wright

Although it is not explicitly illegal to kneel during the national anthem, Kaepernick received a backlash from the public as well as the NFL for his chosen form of protest.

Mariah Dismuke, a sophomore exercise and sports science major from Waller, Texas, disagreed with Kaepernick’s decision and said he should  have put the team first and left politics off the field.

“It was disrespectful to the American flag. He's there to play football not to tell everyone about his political opinions,” said Dismuke. 

However, some students agree with Kaepernick’s choice of protest. Antonio Wright, a Senior Accounting Major at Texas State, thought that it was a great way for Kaepernick to express his opinions.

“I feel like it was an awesome thing to do, to use his platform to protest that way. It also shows that he is not afraid of the consequences that came out of his actions in the remainder of his career,” said Wright.

Jaime Bouzard

Jaime Bouzard, campus minister and University College faculty, also respected Kaepernick’s choice of expression. 

"I think his approach is courageous, appropriate and profoundly American,” said Bouzard.

Shelby Keith

After threats of being fined, many students felt as though the NFL should have responded differently to the protests. Shelby Keith, a performance and production major from Forth Worth, Texas,  said that the NFL responded in a way that shut down any conversation about the issue.

"I would use this to start a dialect about police brutality. Football players are people too, they have opinions and suffer injustices as well. If someone feels that America is no longer a country they are proud of, why should they have to pledge to it,” said Keith. 

Kendria Rhodes

Kendria Rhodes, a 21-year-old student from Dallas, Texas, said that people should be able to kneel as long as they don’t incite any violence.

"If someone is going to protest in a nonviolent way, I’m okay with that. Shushing people and fining them isn’t going to work because at the end of the day there is always going to be somebody that opposes against what you believe in. It's okay for them to have their voice, speak up and say I’m not okay with that,” said Rhodes.

Kaepernick has not continued his football career into the Fall season of 2018, but continues to advocate for the ending of minority oppression and police brutality. 

Kneeling In The NFL

Veronica Flores- sophomore, College Station Tx

Question 1: Do you Kneel for The National Anthem?

"I've never kneeled for a national anthem."

Question 2: Why do you believe Colin Kaepernick kneeled during The National Anthem?

"He's kneeling to say that the words in the national anthem aren't true." Flores said that Kaepernick couldn't kneel for a song that did defend groups such as the "Black Live's Matter Movement". 

Question 3: How do you feel about Kaepernick's actions regarding  The National Anthem?

" I agree with him and what he's doing but all the stuff going on with his Nike ad and people burning things is stupid."

Question 4: How do you feel about the NFL's response to Kaepernick's actions? 

"I feel like they should respect his message like he's trying to do something and he's using his position to do so. "

Texas State Students Speak on Kaepernick

Quotes collected by Joshua Christman
  Source: Demarcus Chatman 


Students reflect on NFL & Kaepernick

Demarcus Chatman, Junior, From Houston, Texas, Student, private military, criminal justice major

 Question 1:
Describe the issue at hand AKA the kneeling issue in the NFL-  Demarcus said Kaepernick used his position on the NFL team, The San Francisco 49ers, to protest civil rights by kneeling during the national anthem. “This deterred him from his football career because most NFL owners and teams refuse to pick him up.”


Question 2: How do You feel about the situation- AKA the kneeling?

“there are better ways for him to use his platform if he really wants to be an effective leader on civil rights issues.” But he does agree that more athletes should be involved with political issues and voicing their opinions on important topics. “I am private military so the kneeling thing kind of contradicts... but overall we are all individuals and if that is the way he decides to promote it... As long as he took a stance for something right I am with it either way.

 Question 3:
How do you feel about the NFL’s response?
 “I think the NFL handled it very bad and the situation is getting worse. The idea is to promote using their platform based on their status as NFL players. They cant just silence players"


Question 4:
How would you have handled the situation?
   “would I sacrifice my career for my political stance? No. so I wouldn’t do the whole kneeling portion of it, but I think being an activist, promoting and doing interviews and talking about it openly to the public would be my stance- rather than actually going against the flag and the National Anthem

   Raul Sifuentes, Junior, 18-24, South Texas, Pre-Med major, full-time-student

Question 1: What do you know about the situation?

“Kaepernick started kneeling down to help out the blacks and create awareness for what Is happening out on the streets with police and police brutality around the nation

Question 2:

How do you feel about Kaepernick's approach?

“this nation is a place where you can express yourself however you please. So, I think it is fair for him to do what he is doing and he should not be taking so much discrimination for what he is doing. It is fair and important for him to spread awareness about what is happening in the United States”

Question 4: How do you feel about the NFL Response?

"I do not like how the NFL was fining people for kneeling or protesting during the national anthem. That goes against the constitution. I know there were some owners who were supportive of their players kneeling so it was still going on after Kaepernick left the league, but they aren’t allowed to do that anymore."

Question 5: How would you handle the situation?

“If I was a player I would follow the rules and stay silent because my future and career are on the line.”

If you worked for the league?

“Well it’s a business and apparently their money is going down because of the kneeling situation. So from a business standpoint, they are going to do what they have to do to continue to appeal to their audience”. He said if he were in charge he would allow players to do as they please. “did anybody ever consider that the ratings were going down because of how the NFL responded poorly- not because of the kneeling itself?”