Seattle coaches join high school team in kneeling for anthem

The football team, in one of the more recent examples of "Kaepernicking"- or kneeling during the national anthem as a form of protest against racial injustice, placed their knee pads on the ground as the song played prior to their game against West Seattle High, some of whose players also knelt. Where are all our other teams at?

"I don't know if they really understand why they're doing it", parent Donna Vennhuizen said.

The act of disrespect is said to be in protest of racial oppression... in a country now being led by a black president.

The social protest started by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has now spread to the high school level.

"We are a team comprised of individuals with diverse backgrounds".

The Seattle School board offered its support as high-school students join a national protest by bending the knee during the National Anthem before their football game. "Seattle Public Schools supports students' rights to free speech".

"Some of us chose to stand for the same idea that would cause them to kneel", Ursino said.

"Some of (them) choose to stand for the same idea that would cause them to kneel".

Smith says the discussions that followed Kaepernick's protests shed light on the hard subject of race and give people a chance to talk about those issues. And we respect that their expression might look different than some of our expression. "But in the end, we all share that same goal".

When asked whether he felt it disrespectful, he said it depends on what's in the person's heart. Several other National Football League players have also begun kneeling during the anthem. They say everyone at school has been supportive. And we stand to insure the riches of freedom and the security of justice for all people.