Aurora Central administrators respect football players' right to kneel for national anthem

AURORA, Colo. – Though many have taken issue with a host of NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem in recent weeks, Aurora Central High School administrators respect the right of some of their football players doing the same.

Several of the players have opted to do so during the first three games of the season and will continue doing so.

And while 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall have at times drawn the ire of people saying they are disrespecting the flag and U.S. military, administrators at ACHS have taken a different approach.

“Aurora Central High School and Aurora Public Schools staff members respect the right of our students to protest in a peaceful manner,” the district said in a statement to Denver7 Wednesday. “We are using this opportunity as a teachable moment and a catalyst for meaningful debate.”

Marshall lost several endorsements because of his actions, but that hasn’t deterred him from continuing to kneel. And the reaction hasn’t all been bad – Marshall had a meeting with Denver Police Chief Robert White that both said was productive.

Aurora Central players told The Denver Post they had a team meeting to discuss Kaepernick’s actions and whether or not they should do the same. Most agreed they could not simply sit by and do nothing, agreeing with Kaepernick’s sentiments that minority groups do not always get equal treatment in society and in encounters with law enforcement.