National anthem protests increasing around the country; now seen in El Paso

Since San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem before NFL preseason games, citing racial injustice and police brutality, his movement has slowly spread across the nation.

From professional to high school athletes, the protest continues to gain momentum.

Friday, ESPN analyst Kirk Morrison at an Oakland High School as players lay on their backs with their hands up as the anthem played.

That same day, but more than a 1,000 miles away, a football player from Burges High School in El Paso participated in the protest. A photo taken by an ABC-7 photographer covering a football game shows a player with the number 34 kneeling during the national anthem. Rosters show that number is assigned to junior wide receiver and defensive back Tre Addy took a knee during the national anthem moments before kickoff.

Burges head coach James Routledge decided not to comment on his player’s actions and would only tell ABC-7 “It’s one of those things that comes down to the individual’s rights.”

Routledge said he was unaware Addy was going to take a knee during the anthem and that there has never been a conversation about Kaepernick’s protest in the locker room.

Routledge said his main focus is on preparing the team and winning games.

Students at Burges had wavering opinions on their classmates actions.

“I think it is disrespectful for the flag and national anthem,” sophomore Chester Downey Jr. said.

Another student, Joel Molina said, “he has a right to do it. If he wants to do it, I don’t see a problem with it.” Burges Senior Michael Domiguez said ” it’s not necessarily the right way to go about it. Of course, the oppression thing is wrong and something needs to change but kneeling during the anthem won’t change anything at all.”

El Paso Independent School District does not plan on addressing the protest. A spokesman from EPISD said the school respects their students freedom of expression.