Some Manatee County students want the right to kneel during national anthem

A group including Manatee County students plans to rally against the Manatee County School District’s statement that student-athletes are not allowed to take a knee during the national anthem.

Together with Answer Suncoast, Party for Socialism and Liberation, NAACP and others, the group plans to gather Tuesday in front of the Manatee County School Board Building to express their concern, according to a news release.

On Sept. 26, an email was sent to School District of Manatee County middle schools and high schools reminding athletic directors that it is against district rules for student athletes not to stand during the national anthem. That is, unless they have special permission.

Superintendent Diana Greene previously told the Bradenton Herald it was an old email the district has used before and was sent out by district Supervisor of Athletics Jason Montgomery.

Greene went on to say that the Code of Student Conduct “clearly states” that all students will stand for the anthem; but, they can be excused from doing so if they have a letter from their parents giving a specific reason why their student will not stand.

Officials said the sending of the email was not due to any violation, rather the ongoing happenings in the National Football League and other venues where others have knelt as a sign of political protest.

“This was a big concern to me as a citizen and student here in Manatee County,” Léah Tiberini, a senior at Manatee High School and one of the organizers of Tuesday’s rally, said in a news release. “This is a threat to students’ civil liberties and I find myself wondering what other rights my school district might take away from us if we let them get away with this.”

The rally will begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday in front of the Manatee County School Board Building, 215 Manatee Ave. W., in Bradenton. There is a Facebook page designated for the event called “Defend the Right to Take a Knee, Manatee!”

If there is no action taken, Tiberini said in a comment on the Facebook group they will go to the school board meeting the following Tuesday.

This story was originally published October 2, 2017 at 2:08 PM with the headline "Some Manatee County students want the right to kneel during national anthem."