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Group holds discussion on planned UTEP national anthem protest


A group of students are planning to protest the national anthem at the UTEP homecoming football game.
A group of students are planning to protest the national anthem at the UTEP homecoming football game.
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UTEP’s homecoming football game next week could be the site of a controversial protest during the national anthem.

The Sun Bowl will be in the spotlight as a group of UTEP students plans to take a knee during the national anthem.

At Boomtown Tavern, members of the Radical Soup Group spoke to a group of about 30 people Friday night.

The group didn’t organize the planned protest, but it is standing in support of the students who did.

“We want a space where students can come and clear the air and talk about why they’re going to be taking a knee during the national anthem,” said Gabriel Solis, a member of Radical Soup.

None of the students who organized the protest wanted to talk on camera or even be recorded.

Solis said the protest is about equality.

“The biggest reason why we’re taking a knee, it's because of the incessant police and state violence against black, brown and indigenous communities across United States,” Solis said.

During the event, the students told the group that they were also protesting what they believe are the racist origins of the "Star-Spangled Banner."

At least one person at Friday’s meeting said he isn’t quite ready to take a knee yet.

“I haven’t made up my mind, so that’s why I’m here. I’m here to get more information about what’s going on. Is it going to be a one-time thing or we can continue the fight?” said Cornelius Brown, a UTEP student.

These kinds of protests have sparked outrage at other collegiate and professional sporting events across the country.

A lot of people said it is disrespectful and that sporting events are the wrong place for a protest.

It is not yet known how many people will participate in the protest.

UTEP officials released the following statement on the planned protest:

"This is not a university-sanctioned protest, nor was this organized by a registered student organization here at UTEP. Individuals have a right to their freedom of expression as long as they are respectful to others and follow the law."

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