High school seniors take a knee during national anthem at Fort Worth-area graduation
When Martina Martinez Treviño witnessed students at a recent graduation kneeling during the national anthem, it was an opportunity to capture a moment and a movement she believes in.
Several students among Saginaw High School’s Class of 2020 got down on one knee to protest against a variety of social injustices just as the ceremony began. Of those who took part in the peaceful protest, seven were among the class’ top 10. A few other students in the following rows can also be seen taking a knee.
“I turned around, got my cell phone out and took the photo. The photo journalist came out of me,” said Treviño, who was working the May 30 commencement at Chisholm Trail High School for her business Altré MEDIA.
In the photo, it appears five of the seven students in the front row are male. The races of all of the students who took part were not known, however, it would appear they are not all of the same race.
Treviño said the students went down on one knee during the Pledge of Allegiance and the pledge of allegiance to the state flag. They then stood up when the first student was about to speak, but school officials realized they had not yet played the national anthem. So when the anthem was played the students took a knee again.
“They were able to do it twice,” Treviño said in praise of the students.
Her photo was posted on Facebook and it’s received more than 800 shares and 400 likes. The majority of the responses have been in favor of the students’ decision to kneel, although some people have expressed their displeasure.
“If you have a problem with this — please feel free to scroll on,” read Treviño’s caption. “Most of the responses have been positive. I take it that way.”
The Saginaw students aren’t the first ones to take the moment to protest against social injustice, police brutality and systematic oppression.
Athletes at all levels supported the movement when former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick started it in 2016. During that high school football season, some players in Dallas-Fort Worth also knelt during the anthem.
Thousands of protesters and law enforcement officers in cities across the country and beyond have been seen taking a knee since George Floyd, an African American man, was killed as the result of the actions taken by four Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day. The four men have since been fired and charged with second-degree murder.
“This is the cream of the crop. These are the leaders of tomorrow,” Treviño said. “They’re the top students. They’re well read and informed. They’re expressing their feelings and standing up for themselves and others. It gives me hope.”
