Teacher Of The Year Kneels For Anthem As President Trump Attends College Football Championship

Jan 20, 2020 by apost team

The NCAA hosted prestigious “Teacher of the Year” ceremonies during the College Football Playoff National Championship this week, but President Donald J. Trump is ultimately the one that was taught. The schooling was delivered by Minnesota's honoree, Kelly Holstine, when she kneeled down in protest without forewarning during the National Anthem.

President Trump and First Lady Melania were both visibly swept up in the spectacle. Meanwhile, Holstine's signal of social solidarity perfectly coincides with the onset of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In a social media update capturing the moment, she summoned his presence with a stirring quote that still resonates powerfully at this very divisive point in time: "No one is free until we are all free."

Tokata Learning Center's prided professor was making a statement that no one could ignore, and that includes the leader of the free world. In making her stand by kneeling, the Language Arts instructor was resolutely defending the rights of today's marginalized LGBTQ youth. In explaining her opposition to Trump and his team, she pointed out to The Hill, "The words and practices and policies of this administration have been filled with a lot of hate toward the LGBTQ community."

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The display was also welcomed as an evocation of Colin Kaepernick, who has been marooned from the NFL due to starting his identical protests. Since 2016, his singular act of cultural resistance has been recognized for sparking a national movement against police brutality while simultaneously earning the ire of Mr. Trump. Considering Kaep's former team, the San Francisco 49ers, are playing in the NFC Championship Game for a spot in Super Bowl LIV, now is a perfect time to remind everyone of the cause that matters most. As the organization's not-to-recently blacklisted and blackballed ex-black-quarterback, Kaepernick truly deserves more of the limelight. Meanwhile, a notorious spotlight hog was in full view: The Commander-in-Chief himself was present for the exact type of protest that he has derisively detested countless times.

According to the event's overseers and their statement made to ABC News, the Council of Chief State School Officers, this honored Shakopee educator worked alone, and there was no external coordination involved; thus, no one really could have anticipated the coming presidential affront. The only indication that trouble might be brewing arrived months earlier when Holstine was one of two teachers who boycotted a presidential "Teacher of the Year" meeting. Such refined distinction has been sullied now. Can you even imagine what he might have said to her?

What do you think of this teacher's act of protest? Do you think more people should get involved and take a stand like this? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this article along to others.