8-Year-Old Football Team Kneels during National Anthem

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Every player on the Cahokia Quarterback Club football team took a knee during the national anthem ahead of Sunday’s game at Little Devil’s Field in Belleville, Illinois.

The coach of the team of 8-year olds said one of the kids asked him why people were protesting in St. Louis.

Coach Orlando Gooden answered the child, “Because black people are getting killed and nobody's going to jail.”

The coach said he then spoke to the team about other situations in the U.S., noting NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling during the anthem.

Following that, he had his team of third graders take a knee, with their backs to the flag during the anthem.

Gooden said the parents of the kids supported him and defended his actions saying, “I'm covered under the First Amendment to peacefully protest and assemble.”

Corrie O'Connor