The 2018 Minnesota Teacher of the Year award winner took a knee during the national anthem at the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
Kelly Holstine was one of several teachers honored before the Monday game, which was attended by President Trump and first lady Melania Trump.
“Like many before, I respectfully kneeled during Nat’l Anthem because, ‘No one is free until we are all free,’” she tweeted Monday during the game.
Honored as State Teachers of the Year at NCAA Champ FB Game. Given platform to stand up for marginalized and oppressed people. Like many before, I respectfully kneeled during Nat’l Anthem because, “No one is free until we are all free” (MLK). #imwithkap #blacklivesmatter #LGBTQ pic.twitter.com/DimP3pBtBn
— Kelly D. Holstine (she/her) (@kellydholstine) January 14, 2020
“Not everybody is given the opportunity to have a voice, and I can take a small moment, a respectful moment of protest, and exercise my First Amendment rights and stand up for my students and for vulnerable adults and for people who are not treated in the way that they should be,” Holstine later told the Hill. “It feels like my responsibility to do that.”
In April, Holstine boycotted an invitation to a White House ceremony honoring the achievements of teachers across the country.
Trump has been a consistent critic of NFL players who kneel for the national anthem in protest of racism and police brutality ever since former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started the trend in 2016.
“Wow, NFL first game ratings are way down over an already really bad last year comparison,” Trump tweeted in September 2018. “If the players stood proudly for our Flag and Anthem, and it is all shown on broadcast, maybe ratings could come back?”
Wow, NFL first game ratings are way down over an already really bad last year comparison. Viewership declined 13%, the lowest in over a decade. If the players stood proudly for our Flag and Anthem, and it is all shown on broadcast, maybe ratings could come back? Otherwise worse!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 9, 2018
About a year prior, roughly a dozen San Francisco 49ers players knelt for the national anthem before a game attended by Vice President Mike Pence. The vice president and second lady walked out of the game during halftime in a move that Trump said he requested.
I asked @VP Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country. I am proud of him and @SecondLady Karen.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2017
