San Francisco 49ers

High school football player not suspended for national anthem protest

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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A high school football player at Doherty High School (Worcester, Mass.) who knelt during the playing of the national anthem at a game on Friday has not been suspended by his school, according to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

The coaches were planning on discussing a potential one-game suspension for running back Michael Oppong's decision to protest, but the superintendent of the school decided that no discipline would be handed down. Initial reports indicated that Oppong would be suspended.

Oppong's follows San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's decision not to stand for the national anthem in protest of racial inequality and injustice, including police-related violence. The movement has spread across other teams in the NFL.

Oppong tweeted that he had been suspended and supported started to pour in. On Monday morning, he tweeted that he was no longer suspended and said, “I just want to thank all of you guys for the support you all gave me throughout this whole situation and by God's grace Justice was served.”

Thanks to all your love and support my suspension of 1 game has been terminated! pic.twitter.com/a8RB9c200N
— BLACK LIVES MATTER (@Oppong_5) September 12, 2016

The superintendent plans to meet with the football team coaches, but no suspension or action will be taken if athletes do not stand during the national anthem.

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