Inspired by Colin Kaepernick and Brandon Marshall, members of a New Jersey high school football team knelt during the national anthem to raise awareness of social and economic injustice. Coach Preston Brown, an African-American, initially planned to kneel alone, citing the national anthem’s controversial third verse, which historically excluded people like him. He explained that recent events and his experiences as a student-athlete in the South led him to make this stand.

After Brown informed his players of his decision, some chose to join him, sharing his concerns about poverty and social inequality in their community. The Camden City School District supported their right to protest, emphasizing the importance of engaging with social justice issues, regardless of whether students chose to stand or kneel.