No punishing anthem protests
School district won’t take action vs. those expressing opinions.
With protests dur i ng the national anthem once again prevalent throughout the NFL, the Palm Beach County School District has not changed its policy regarding local players kneeling during the anthem, school district spokeswoman Kathy Burstein said this week.
“If students kneel during the playing of the national anthem, there should be no consequences or interventions for this action,” Burstein said, reiterating the policy sent out last year. “Addition- ally, there should be no threats or warnings made to students if they kneel. If the student’s conduct is substantially disruptive or vulgar, however, there can be discipline.”
Last year, four of Al Shipman’s players at Palm Beach Lakes chose to join then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in his protest of police brutality and systemic racism during the national anthem. At the Rams’ game against Royal Palm Beach on Wednesday night, one player, junior Devenere Norfleet knelt during the anthem, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
As the protest once again entered the national picture following President Donald Trump’s criticism of protesters
and desire for them to be “fired” from the NFL, Shipman still sees no issue with his players potentially taking a knee. More than 100 players across the NFL protested in some way this past weekend, including several Miami Dolphins players.
“I never have a problem with them expressing themselves or standing up for what they believe in,” Shipman said in a text message Tuesday. “The key is teaching them the right way to do so!”
Several Palm Be a ch County coaches chose not to speak on the subject or did not respond when asked for comment. One coach asked to speak anonymously.
The coaches who did comment on the subject said they did not know of any plans for their players to kneel or otherwise protest during the anthem, but they would not have issues with it, though one said he would like to speak to the player first.
“I would want to know the reason,” one coach said. “What are you trying to bring attention to? And then I would talk to him that way, as a man-to-man.”
That coach, who is white, said he understands he has a different life experience than young black men, including those he coaches.
“One of the young freshmen that’s a black kid came up to me and said, ‘Of all the white people I know, you’re the only person that is not a racist,’” he said. “Which felt good, but then I’m thinking, ‘Oh my God, he’s living in a world where he feels that all white people are racist.’ So that worried me after I really thought about it.”
Turmarian Moreland, the offensive coordinator at Palm Beach Central, said he was worried that the idea behind Kaepernick’s original protest was being lost following Trump’s comments.
“I think it took a life of its own because it went from what he was trying to get awareness for to now it’s turned into a more political thing,” he said, “and I think his message is getting lost.”
Moreland said he understood why someone, especially a service member or their family, would take offense to the protest, but he thinks Kaepernick was not trying to offend them and instead bring attention to police brutality.
“If you wear blue for autism, you’re not going to stop autism, but obvi- ously you’re trying to give awareness to that particular cause,” he said. “Same thing if you’re wearing pink in October for breast cancer. The wearing of pink is not going to stop breast cancer, but you’re trying to give awareness to that situation.
“I think that’s what Colin was trying to do.”
Boca Raton football coach and Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office spokesman Eric Davis also said he did not have an issue with his or other players kneeling during the anthem.
“I, personally, don’t have a problem with it,” Davis said. “I’m a former Marine, and that’s what the country is built on: freedom of speech and being able to protest things that we don’t agree with.”