national anthem Archives - The Virginia Star

Teachers’ Union Suggests Summer Reading About Kneeling for the National Anthem

August 15, 2022August 14, 2022 Admin

The country’s largest teachers’ union suggested a book about kneeling for the national anthem as part of its August 2022 summer reading list, according to its website.

The National Education Association (NEA) listed the book “Why We Fly” by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal, which features marijuana use and tells of two girls on the cheerleading squad who take a knee for the national anthem after being inspired by a football star protesting in the media, according to the website. Discussion questions and related resources on athlete activism are also provided by the NEA to pair with the reading.

China Bans Its Own National Anthem as Anger over Lockdowns Rises

April 26, 2022April 25, 2022 Virginia Star Staff

China’s censors banned social media posts featuring the communist country’s national anthem after internet users co-opted its lyrics to protest Shanghai’s ongoing lockdown, multiple sources reported.

Censors are actively removing Chinese posts containing the first stanza of “The March of the Volunteers,” which features the lyrics “Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves,” NY Daily News reported.

Americans’ Allegiance to National Anthem Remains Strong Despite Protests, Poll Shows

August 18, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Polling ahead of the 2021 NFL season indicates that, despite an increasingly political landscape for the sport and its fans, Americans overwhelmingly would prefer that the National Anthem continue to be the sole anthem played prior to games.

According to a recent poll conducted by Newt Gingrich’s American Majority Project in conjunction with McLaughlin & Associates, a total of 61% of Americans believe that “only” the American National Anthem should be played at NFL Games. That figure ticks up slightly to 64% among Republicans, and falls to 58% among Independents, while 11% of those polled said they don’t know.

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National Gingrich 360 Anthem X-tabs 8-3-21 .pdf
The poll was conducted in the wake of the NFL’s recent decision to play “Lift Every Voice and Sing” – often referred to as the black national anthem – before all games during the upcoming season, ahead of the playing of the American National Anthem. The song was initially introduced by the NFL when it was sung by Alicia Keys at the Super Bowl for the 2020-2021 season. The decision to play the song before each game is reportedly part of the league’s quarter-billion dollar investment in social justice messaging and initiatives.

Former Soccer Player Hope Solo Says Megan Rapinoe Would ‘Bully’ Teammates into Kneeling for Anthem

August 18, 2021August 17, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Hope Solo, the former goalie for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, said during an interview on Tuesday that her teammate Megan Rapinoe would resort to bullying tactics to coerce the other players into kneeling during the National Anthem, Fox News reports.

“I’ve seen Megan Rapinoe almost bully players into kneeling because she really wants to stand up for something in her particular way,” Solo said on the podcast “All of US: The U.S. Women’s Soccer Show.” However, Solo noted, “it’s our right as Americans to do it in whatever way we’re comfortable with,” before going on to describe the kneeling phenomenon as “very divisive.”

For this reason, Solo said she was relieved when the National Anthem was removed from the beginning of the game “to really remove that decision from athletes, because that’s very tough.”

Newt Gingrich Commentary: Patriotic Olympians the Liberal Media Didn’t Want You to See

August 12, 2021August 11, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

by Newt Gingrich Now that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have concluded, it would be easy for the casual viewer to think that American patriotism and love of country is at an all time low. Throughout the games, the woke liberal media continuously highlighted American athletes who refused to…

NFL’s Sunday, Monday Night Ratings Hit to New Lows

November 22, 2020November 21, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

According to Breitbart, Sunday Night Football’s Patriots-Ravens game last weekend was down 31 percent over last year’s Week 10 game making it the season’s least-watched Sunday game, Sports Media Watch reported.

“Ratings have dropped for all 11 NFL games on NBC this season, with viewership down for all-but-one,” SMW reported.

Broncos Organization Says It Is Proud of Kneeling Players in Monday Night Football Game with Titans, Even as Viewership Plummets 38 Percent

September 16, 2020September 15, 2020 Jason M. Reynolds

More than 30 players from the Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans knelt in protest during the national anthem prior to their Monday Night Football game, Breitbart reported.

Eighteen Broncos and 13 Titans took a knee and/or raised fists, the outlet said.

Washington Nationals, New York Yankees Kneel Prior to the National Anthem

July 25, 2020July 24, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

Prior to the start of the 2020 MLB season opener in Washington, DC, all members of both teams took a knee prior to the start of the national anthem. According to the Yankees, it was done “together in unity.”

The park was particularly silent for the moment with no fans in the stands because of the risks and worries of COVID-19, a pre-recorded rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner was played and every player and coach “took a knee” on the grass, for about 20 seconds.

AP Source: NFL to Play Black Anthem Before National Anthem

July 4, 2020 The Associated Press

“Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” will be performed live or played before “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to each NFL game during Week 1 and the league is considering putting names of victims of police brutality on helmet decals or jersey patches, a person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press.

The person said the league is working collaboratively with players to recognize victims of systemic racism throughout the season in a variety of ways. The person spoke to the AP on Thursday on condition of anonymity because discussions between the league and the NFL Players Association are ongoing.

President Trump Withdraws Philadelphia Eagles Invite, Plans Patriotic Celebration with Fans Anyway

June 5, 2018June 7, 2018 Jason M. Reynolds

President Donald Trump said, in a statement, that the Philadelphia Eagles team is “unable” to attend a White House ceremony this afternoon because they don’t agree with his belief that NFL players should “proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women…