Several members of the East Carolina marching band knelt during the national anthem, and a number of fans did not take kindly to it.
Band members took a knee while playing the anthem before Saturday’s home football game against the University of Central Florida. Some fans responded to the peaceful demonstration by booing loudly during the band’s halftime performance:
In the past two weeks, band members at Southern Methodist and the University of North Carolina have also knelt in protest during the anthem. Later Saturday afternoon, members of North Carolina State’s band protested in the same fashion.
Shortly after halftime, East Carolina’s chancellor released a statement acknowledging the “disappointment” that Pirate fans expressed but upholding the band members’ right to engage in protest: