Entire Seattle high school team takes knee for national anthem

An entire high school football team in Seattle has decided to stand behind Colin Kaepernick by protesting the national anthem.

Before their game on Friday night, the Garfield High School football team — coaches included — took a knee as soon as “The Star-Spangled Banner” began.

Seattle's Garfield High School football team kneels during national anthem – https://t.co/OpxRmDnT0n pic.twitter.com/gqyBellm7e

— KOMO News (@komonews) September 17, 2016

Some players from the opposing West Seattle High School also took part in the demonstration.

Jayda Evans of The Seattle Times reports that Garfield decided to protest because of the typically-omitted third verse of the national anthem, which includes a line that supports slavery.

The stanza omitted from Francis Scott Key’s famed “Star Spangled Banner” that mocks black men for aligning with the British during the War of 1812 in hopes of freedom from American slavery.

“No refuge could save the hireling and slave; from the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave” wrote Key, a slave owner himself.

Stunned at the revelation and frustrated by their own experiences in modern-day America, the Bulldogs decided they wouldn’t stand for it anymore. The Garfield football team knelt in unison during the playing of the national anthem before its 52-9 Metro League win against West Seattle on Friday.

Kaepernick’s protest has taken off over the past several weeks, with players and coaches from all sports taking part in various ways. In fact, one NFL head coach recently said he would consider taking a stance. While many disagree with the demonstrations, it doesn’t appear they will be stopping anytime soon.

H/T The Big Lead