School board member in Georgia wants suspensions for anthem protests

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) – A Richmond County school board member has proposed punishing athletes, cheerleaders and band members if they don’t stand during the national anthem.

The Augusta Chronicle reports that Frank Dolan announced his recommendation Tuesday as the finance committee discussed approving new band uniforms for a school.

Dolan says if band members who are wearing school-bought uniforms don’t stand during the national anthem, they should be suspended.

Before a vote could be made on Dolan’s motion, Superintendent Angela Pringle requested time to research how other school systems are handling the controversial topic.

Athletes around the country have recently been either kneeling or sitting during the national anthem to call attention to what they perceive to be police brutality and racial discrimination in the wake of black men being shot by police.