SMU band members kneel in protest during national anthem
Five African-American members of the SMU's marching band kneeled during the playing of the national anthem during Friday night's game against TCU, according to Grant McGalliard of the Dallas Morning News.
Coda Boyce, a student in attendance at the game, also knelt during the national anthem and offered an explanation for her protest.
“I’m not against all police officers, I’m not saying all cops are bad, I’m not saying all Caucasian people are bad, because they’re not,” Boyce said. “I just believe that the injustice being shown in the past couple of years has been too much to handle. And I’m a little tired of it.”
Members of the #smu band kneel for the national anthem. pic.twitter.com/Zc3fvEZwAP
— Nikki Chavanelle (@NikkiChavanelle) September 23, 2016
The decision to protest during the national anthem comes from San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's decision not to stand for the national anthem during the games in protest of racial inequalities and injustices taking place in America, including police-related violence.
Last weekend, cheerleaders at Penn joined in the protest.