4 Monroe High School Players Take Knee Before New Brunswick Game

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — Four players from the Monroe High School football team took the knee during the National Anthem last Thursday night, Sept. 28 in New Brunswick.

Monroe High School athletics director Greg Beyer told the Asbury Park Press that all four players informed Monroe head coach Dan Lee before the game that they intended to take a knee.

“We have to follow what is in the (school district’s) policy,” Beyer said. "And pretty much the policy is if a kid doesn’t want to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, that’s his constitutional right, so we have to handle it (taking a knee during the playing of the anthem) the same exact way.”

Football players nationwide have been kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial inequality and alleged police brutality. The names of the four Monroe High School football players who knelt were not immediately available. Related: Carteret Police Officer (And Mayor's Brother) Indicted for Beating Teen

In the past two weeks, more than 200 NFL players knelt during the National Anthem to protest President Donald Trump's statement that such actions should result in their being fired. High school football players nationwide have done likewise and faced consequences: In Louisiana and Texas, high schools warned they would kick players off the football team for kneeling, the Asbury Park Press reported. The Diocese of Camden, New Jersey issued a warning last year that any student who did not stand for the National Anthem could suspended or dismissed from the team. The ACLU says such actions are unconstitutional. But the diocese argued that, as a private Catholic school, free speech was not a protected right.

“The best approach is helping our young people understand that blood was sacrificed so that we all can enjoy the gifts of our faith and our country,” according to the letter from the Diocese of Camden, which was published by NJ.com. “We are not public institutions and free speech in all of its demonstrations, including protests, is not a guaranteed right.”

Here is the letter in full from Camden diocese Superintendent of Schools Mary P. Boyle, released in the fall of 2016:

"In light of the recent controversy regarding the NFL player’s refusal to stand for the National Anthem, I seek to clarify the position of the Office of Catholic Schools. I ask that this be communicated to those listed above.

Our schools are founded on the teaching of respect and honor; respect and honor for God, country and duly appointed authority.

It is expected that our administration and coaches as well as our athletes will show respect during prayer, pledges and the playing or singing of the National Anthem.

The best approach is helping our young people understand that blood was sacrificed so that we all can enjoy the gifts of our faith and our country.

However, let me be clear. We are not public institutions and free speech in all of its demonstrations, including protests is not a guaranteed right.

Failure to do demonstrate appropriate respect will result in suspension from play (2 games) or dismissal from the team for subsequent offenses."

It is unclear if the dioceses of Trenton, Metuchen, Newark or Paterson have issued similar directives.

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