The entire stadium, including all cheerleaders, stood for the National Anthem on Veteran's Day and the Military Appreciation Game dedicated to troops.
A spokesperson for the cheerleaders at the center of the National Anthem controversy called the "Kennesaw Five" said several women chose to lock arms to show solidarity with our troops and military.
A spokesperson for the women relayed in a statement Saturday, the choice to stand rather than kneel "was to prove to those who claim their protest was against our military wrong! They honor those who gave them the right to protest, however, it has always and [continues] to be about police brutality and social injustice. They do plan to continue to kneel during the next games," said Davante E.D. Lewis, who has issued statements on behalf of the women for several weeks.
Kennesaw State University's president Sam Olens allowed the cheerleaders to be on the field during the National Anthem at this weekend's home football game. The cheerleaders were forced to stay in the tunnel for the past two home games after five of them took a knee.
Over the past few weeks, there have been several protests on campus supporting the five cheerleaders, who have come to be known as the Kennesaw Five.
At the Military Appreciation Game, different people had differing opinions regarding the cheerleader's decision to kneel in previous games.
"They still have freedom to do that. they do have freedom of speech," said Steve Rule, a Marine Corps veteran, who disagreed with the choice to kneel.
"I'm strictly against that," said Sid Ellis, a 92-year-old World War II veteran who was honored at the game.
The Kennesaw Five spokesperson said the cheerleaders plan to resume kneeling during games.
