The national anthem protest that began in the NFL has now spread to college basketball. Ole Miss players knelt on the hardwood Saturday while "The Star-Spangled Banner" played, much in the same way that numerous professional football players have over the last several years.
While the NFL protests take place amid the constant threat of state violence and police brutality faced by African-American communities in the United States, the protest was especially relevant today in Oxford. The players knelt as a pro-confederate march took place on Oxford Square.
The decision to kneel for the national anthem comes shortly after the face of the protest movement finally saw some movement on his case against the NFL. Colin Kaepernick sued the NFL for illegally conspiring to keep him from playing in the league after his kneeling protest sparked debate and, in some cases, outrage.
The Super Bowl-competing quarterback suddenly couldn't find a home in a league full of subpar quarterbacks. He received a sealed settlement from the league reported to be somewhere between $60-80 million.
"For the the past several months, counsel for Mr. Kaepernick and Mr. Reid have engaged in an ongoing dialogue with representatives of the NFL," the NFL explained in a statement. "As a result of those discussions, the parties have decided to resolved the pending grievances."
