One of the students who chose not to stand when the national anthem played at a soccer game this week involving the World of Inquiry school in Rochester expects that protest will continue at future games.
Miguel Lopez stresses this was a team decision, they all knelt down, similar to what NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick did recently.
He says the team just felt they needed to make a point about the way minorities are treated in America.
"We’re not trying to be disrespectful or we’re not trying to be irresponsible with what we’re doing but people need to see what’s actually happening, it’s not just the police brutality it’s also the economic oppression, the institutionalized racism that happens every day.”
Lopez says the school officials have been very supportive as have the students there, but he has seen hateful comments online.
“Some people have been calling us un-American, disloyal, and disrespectful to veterans, but veterans fought and died for this country so that we could have the right to choose, and we’re very thankful for that.”
Miguel’s father, Michael Lopez, who is also vice president of the Flower City Soccer League, is supportive of what the team did.
“It’s also taught them how much support that they have in the community but they are highly aware of a lot of the criticism that had been thrown at them as well and it has been very much a great learning and empowering experience for the boys.”
His son expects the soccer team to continue their silent protest when the anthem is played at upcoming games. At a game at Bishop Kearney on Thursday night, some, but not all of the World of Science team knelt during the national anthem.
Officials with the school district say they encourage students who protest to share that decision before the game with coaches and officials. Miguel Lopez says school officials have been supportive of his team's right to protest.
