San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has inspired many across the nation to take a stand — or knee — in reference to the national anthem and police brutality. A group of those people include the Beaumont Bulls, a local football team located in Texas.
Earlier this year, Bleacher Report published a story on the team’s decision to take a knee when “The Star-Spangled Banner” would play before a game. Initially, the team garnered support from their families and league officials. The New York Daily News reports that despite death threats that were aimed at the team and their loved ones, the league and executive board members still showed their support for the teens and the coaching staff.
Later, the board circled back with the team and asked them to cease their protests. But, in an action that the executives deemed wasn’t a result of the protests, they suspended the team’s coach, Rah-Rah Barber, once the team continued its demonstrations. Failing to find a replacement once assistant coach, Alfred Dean, decided to resign, the board suspended the team’s remaining season, the site states.
“Our kids are waking up,” Barber said in response to his team’s awareness of the injustices happening around them. “And when that happens, change happens.” The students also protested the suspension of Barber.
In response to the opposition the team has faced, April Parkerson, whose son plays for the team, questioned why people can’t grasp the reason for the students’ stance. “I think people can’t get past the protest itself,” Parkerson said to Bleacher Report. “Why are we still having a conversation about why we’re doing this?”