National anthem protests trickling down to high school level

Colin Kaepernick's protest against social injustice is being heard loud and clear by young athletes across the country and a host of high school football players have emulated the San Francisco quarterback in recent weeks by kneeling during the national anthem before their own games.

Michael Walsh, diocese spokesman, called the letter a "precautionary notice in light of what had been occurring at the professional level."

David L. Hudson Jr., author of "Let The Students Speak: A History of the Fight for Freedom of Expression in American Schools," said silent or passive protests like kneeling are not disruptive and therefore allowed under court rulings dating back decades.

"The highest court in the land ruled long ago, and it's been upheld time after time, that students do not leave their free speech rights at the schoolhouse gate," said Bob Farrace, director of public affairs for the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Michael Walker, director of the Office of Black Male Student Achievement in the Minneapolis Public Schools, said his class had discussed the NFL protest, using it as a starting point to research the verses of the national anthem.

In Rockford, Illinois, some football players at Auburn High took a knee during the anthem and the school saw it as a teachable moment.

"The student athletes said they wanted to create more social awareness of racial injustice in America," coach Dan Appino said.