LHSAA will allow schools, districts to handle anthem protests their way

Eddie Bonine has chosen to let individual schools ultimately decided how to deal with students that take part in National Anthem protests.
Ever since San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided to sit during the playing of the National Anthem during a preseason game in late August, as a form of protest to what he called “racial injustice and police brutality,” the movement of silent protest has slowly spread throughout all levels of sports in the United States.
Bonine, who serves as the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Executive Director, addressed the protest movement, and more importantly what role the LHSAA would have in dealing with said movement in a statement released on Monday.
Bonine wrote, “It was brought to my attention this past Friday, we had multiple protests to the National Anthem by LHSAA member schools athletes and fans. I have met with my executive cabinet, and discussed a similar protest which took place in the State of Washington prior to a football game last Friday night by the Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA). I have since spoken to LHSAA Legal Counsel and discussed the topic. This said, taking into account the aforementioned conversations, and until advised differently, the following will be the position statement from this office: The LHSAA is a principal’s organization whereas in this situation where the LHSAA Rules and Regulations do not take precedence, any/all decisions related to individual(s), and /or team(s) expression(s) exhibited during any pre-event National Anthem at a LHSAA regular season and/or post season game, match, meet or contest, will be determined by each individual member school and/or member school’s school district.”
Dozens upon dozens of other players from other NFL teams have followed in Kaepernick’s footsteps in the weeks since that initial protest, including members of the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs have either locked arms, taken knees or have stood with fists raised in the air during the anthem.
The same has taken place in the WNBA and this past Saturday players from both the Michigan State and University of Michigan football teams raised their fists in the air during the playing of “The Star Spangled Banner.”
The protests have also trickled down to the high school level as football teams from Ohio, New Jersey, Alabama, Massachusetts and California have all protested.
As of right now, no player or players from any of the five high school football teams (Ville Platte, Sacred Heart, Mamou, Pine Prairie and Basile) in Evangeline Parish have taken part in any form of protest.