Entire High School Team Kneels for National Anthem

Woodrow Wilson High's Edwin Lopez (#1) stands while some of his teammates kneel during the national anthem before Woodrow Wilson High School played Highland High School at Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden, N.J., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. Colin Kaepernick's protest against social injustices has opened discussion and debate on a national level. For high schools across the country, where a host of football players have joined the San Francisco quarterback by kneeling during the national anthem, the issue is much more personal and complicated. (Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

SEATTLE—Football coaches at a Seattle high school joined their players in taking a knee during the national anthem, following the lead of NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick to protest social injustice.

The entire Garfield High School football team and its coaching staff knelt during “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the Friday kickoff against West Seattle High School in Seattle. Several players from the other team also knelt.

Joey Thomas, Garfield High’s head coach, told Seattle media outlets his players have encountered either police brutality or racial profiling. He said his team won’t have to kneel once people start addressing racial injustice.

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