A University of Michigan graduate student knelt down on campus all day on Monday to protest against Donald Trump and social injustice as demonstrations erupted across the US.
Dana Greene Jr., a first-year master’s student in UM’s School of Public Health, drew quite a crowd a day after Trump called NFL players who kneel during the national anthem ‘sons of bitches’.
The student said: ‘Trump has made it harder for people who look like me and people who don’t look like me to walk this campus, to feel comfortable in our own skin.
Dana Greene Junior, a first-year master’s student in UM’s School of Public Health, drew quite a crowd
The student said: ‘Trump has made it harder for people who look like me and people who don’t look like me to walk this campus, to feel comfortable in our own skin’
He added: ‘I’m here to tell Trump and our own campus president that what we are dealing with is not OK, it’s not right.’
‘I’m here to tell him and our own campus president that what we are dealing with is not OK, it’s not right. If I have to kneel here until my knees bleed, that’s what I’m going to do.’
Kneeling on campus opposite the national flag, Greene was supported by his peers who provided him food and water throughout the day.
His father told Michigan Live that he was ‘very proud’ of his effort, adding: ‘I always told him to stand up for what you believe in.’
Greene explained his protest in a letter to UM President Mark Schlissel shared widely online.
Greene explained his protest in a letter to UM President Mark Schlissel shared widely online
Activists have been protesting around the US. Pictured: Two African-American officers in a South Side precinct in Chicago, Illinois, can be seen kneeling next to activist Aleta Clark
Activist Aleta Clark poses on her knee with friends as she protests against social injustice
He denied that he was disrespecting the national flag, adding: ‘I feel like I’m honoring the troops, because they gave me the right to do this,’ he said.
‘My father served in the military. If black people can get killed in this country and not get any justice for their lives – for their murders – then that’s disrespecting the flag. If the president of the United States can equate peaceful protesters with KKK members and the alt-right, that is disrespecting the flag.’
The university president released a statement supporting the protest. He said: ‘I share with many the belief that our institution and our nation do not always live up to our highest ideals, including the equal rights we hold dear.’
‘To me, the American Flag represents many things, including those very rights.
Kneeling in protest of police shootings of ethnic minorities has become popular since former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem. Pictured: Activists
Activists across the US have taken a knee in protest against perceived injustice. Pictured: Aleta Clark
‘Today, one of our students began kneeling in front of the flag on our Diag to demonstrate for justice and equal rights,’ he added. ‘I support his right to engage in peaceful protest.
‘I have spoken to the student, and we plan to meet as soon as I am back on campus. I want to work together with all our campus community to make U-M a more welcoming and inclusive place. I hope that despite the differences that exist in our nation, we can unite in the name of equality and justice for all.’
Kneeling in protest of police shootings of ethnic minorities has become popular since former San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem before NFL games last season.
Activists across the US have taken a knee in protest against perceived injustice. The Chicago Police Department is currently investigating a photo of two uniformed officers photographed ‘taking a knee’ alongside an activist.
This season several NFL players have sat down or raised fists during the anthem to protest police treatment and social injustice.
President Trump has criticized those who do so, saying: ‘That’s a total disrespect of everything that we stand for. Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, you’d say, “Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired”.’
This season several NFL players have sat down or raised fists during the anthem to protest police treatment and social injustice. Pictured: The Dallas Cowboys
Pictured is the entire Dallas Cowboys team, including its owner Jerry Jones, kneeling with linked arms before the national anthem is sung at the game between the Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Arizona
Pictured is another view of the Dallas Cowboys kneeling with linked arms. The action drew some boos from the crowd
On Saturday, Trump echoed his stance.
‘If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL, or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem,’ Trump tweeted. ‘If not, YOU’RE FIRED. Find something else to do!’
Kaepernick has not yet commented on how his movement has taken off within the NFL. He is not playing this season after he was not signed as a free agent. He declined to comment about the matter to Splash News on Monday.
Colin Kaepernick, pictured kneeling during an October 2016 game against the Buffalo Bills, is not playing this season after he opted to become a free agent and was not signed by any team. He inaugurated the trend of kneeling during the national anthem as a protest against police brutality and social injustice
Last night The Dallas Cowboys dropped to one knee for a few seconds before standing up and locking arms to sing the National Anthem during Monday Night Football.
The team’s owner, Jerry Jones, joined them in their unique display of solidarity with other NFL players who have knelt or sat over the weekend during the national anthem. Coach Jason Garrett also joined.
Jones, 74, in the past has criticized NFL players who do so and his team’s actions against the Arizona Cardinals prompted some booing from spectators. The Cardinals did not kneel but, like the Cowboys, all linked arms.
Donald Trump is pictured greeting the family of a Marine pilot on Sunday. Trump criticized NFL players who do not stand during the national anthem. He said in a speech: ‘Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, you’d say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired.” Trump also tweeted on Monday: ‘They should not be disrespecting our FLAG or GREAT COUNTRY!’
Oakland Athletics’ Bruce Maxwell took the knee again during the national anthem on Monday, as fury over Donald Trump’s comments continues to rage.
Maxwell was the first major leaguer to take a knee during the national anthem on Saturday, after President Trump said the NFL should bar players who knelt during the anthem in protest of police shootings of African Americans.
And on Monday, the 26-year-old rookie took the knee again during The Star-Spangled Banner before the game against the Seattle Mariners.
Oakland Athletics’ Bruce Maxwell took the knee again during the national anthem on Monday, as fury over Donald Trump’s comments continues to rage. His teammate Mark Canha is seen resting his hand on his shoulder in support
Maxwell became the first major leaguer to take a knee during the National Anthem before the start of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Saturday, Sept. 23