UA students stage ‘sit in’ protest at Bama football game during National Anthem

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The protest style of Colin Kaepernick that has swept across the NFL has made its way to the Yellowhammer State. On Saturday, approximately 20 to 25 students sat during the Million Dollar Band’s rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” before The University of Alabama’s homecoming football game.

According to a report published in Monday’s edition of UA’s student newspaper The Crimson White, the protest was organized via GroupMe by a few students desiring to stand up against “racial injustice.”

“People are misinformed on the intent of the protest, but there are injustices in this country that we cannot ignore. Myself being an African-American student, I am very much a witness and victim to racial injustices,” Michael Coates, student protestor, told The Crimson White.

The protestors stood for the MDB’s usual pregame performance, but sat down for the national anthem. They proceeded to stand again for the playing of the school’s Alma Mater. Most of the protestors wore black outfits, and a few wore shirts reading “Black Lives Matter”

Kaepernick and others that have sat during the national anthem assert that their political protest is protected by the First Amendment. Despite the fact that First Amendment only applies only to government restrictions and not private entities, the protests are inherently a public speech issue.

While UA students protests are undoubtedly within the scope of their rights, it is curious to see students make a stand against the constitutionally protected free speech of Milo Yiannopoulos on campus.

Yiannopoulos, the openly-gay Trump supporter and Tech Editor for Breitbart, is scheduled to speak at The University of Alabama on Monday, Oct. 10. The ticketed event sold out almost immediately.

The Breitbart Editor has often been called out for his “highly offensive” and “politically incorrect” speech, and those opposing his presence on campus have noted that the tenor of his talks is inherently un-academic. But time and time again, the U.S. Supreme Court has held firm that incredibly offensive speech discussing public issues on public property is a right protected by the Constitution.

While no “official” protest of Yiannopoulos’ appearance has been publicized, UA will have no shortage of protest events during the first week of October.

Protesters who sat during the national anthem have explicitly stated that this was not a “one and done” demonstration. Using the hashtag “#BamaSits” on twitter, protestors have shared plans for a week-long “Campaign Against Social Injustices.”