Photo by Reilly Smith of The Falconer, La Salle's nationally recognized and award-winning student new site.
Inspired by a 16-year-old sophomore student-athlete named Jacob Waterman, I knelt during the playing of the national anthem before two football games at La Salle. Here’s why: First, racial injustice in this country is real, and all of us – no matter the color of our skin, and whether we are the oppressed or the oppressor or the ally-activist – all Americans are harmed by inequity of any kind. Likewise, every American will benefit from racial conciliation and healing. Second, I knelt to support Jacob and three other players who knelt with him.
I know this action triggers pain for some people, and that troubles me. I don’t intend harm, but the impact of my action could be pain. What I know from first-hand accounts of my students, friends and acquaintances of color is that they experience tremendous pain in daily life in America simply because they are not White. My reading and coursework on racial equity and inclusion backs this up. And the pain experienced by people of color is more compelling to me than the discomfort I’m causing people (primarily White) who take offense at kneelers.
I agree to cease taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem while representing La Salle if you will mandate and support the creation of an Equity Lens and a Racial Justice Summit, both to be implemented no later than April 1, 2020.
Please indicate your commitment by signing below by 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2019.
My signature here confirms my commitment to honoring this agreement....
To help our President / Principal explain to the staff what institutional racism is so we can help identify it in our own school community, I created this image based on a CEI image I saw during training.