Coach Preston Brown wanted to draw attentoon to social injustices and economic disparities.
The Camden City School District released a statement on Sunday morning supporting Woodrow Wilson coach Preston Brown and his Tiger football team’s decision to kneel for the national anthem before Saturday’s opening game against Highland.
Brown said he notified his team of his decision Friday and did not ask them to join him, but most of the players and coaches did. A few people on the Tigers’ sideline continued to stand.
The decision has generated plenty of discussion and opinion. A story on the national anthem on nj.com concerning Brown and the Tiger players' decision had generated over 600 comments as of Sunday morning.
Brown said he knelt to draw attention to social injustices and economic disparities.
TAKING A KNEE: Tigers kneel for anthem
“All my life I felt like I stood up for the national anthem as a formality,” said Brown after the Tigers’ 13-7 loss. “It never meant that much to me. I still love America. I have nothing against it, and I still love our military and all that they do but it was never a song that moved me. I always just closed my eyes and did it.
“(Because) of recent events that happened the last couple years, things I experienced in college being an African-American student athlete in the south (at Tulane), I felt it was an appropriate time to do that.”
Following is the statement released by district spokesman Brendan Lowe:
“The District supports standing for the flag, but this is a personal issue, and we strongly respect our students' experiences and their exercising our country's First Amendment rights. Whether our students choose to stand, kneel, or otherwise, we're proud of their engagement with what is more broadly a very important social justice issue."
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat for the national anthem several weeks ago as a way to protest police brutality and oppression of black people. Other athletes have joined him since, and Brown felt it was time he joined the movement and make a statement.
Senior Edwin “Tank” Lopez said he decided to continue to stand because he viewed the anthem as a way to honor American troops, including those who had been killed in combat. Brown did not have any problem with Lopez’s decision to stand, saying it was his right.
“I was just sticking to the script,” said Lopez. “One little incident in the NFL shouldn’t change that. I was going to do my own thing. It’s a free country. I can see where they were coming from. They can do whatever they want.
“The national anthem is just supporting the troops, the ones that passed. I just felt I should show respect for them and the country.”
Brown said he would continue to kneel for the national anthem. The Tigers host Northern Burlington on Saturday.
Bill Evans can be reached at bevans@njadvancemedia.com or by leaving a note in the comments below. Follow him on Twitter @BEvansSports. Find the NJ.com High School Football page on Facebook by following this link.