Officials protesting anthem–SCHSL speaks

[ODog]

Originally Posted by bballref3966

I would not want to be on a crew with any official who would do this, for perception's and safety's sake. There are enough people in the gym who already hate us. There is no good reason for an official to draw more undo attention to the crew by pulling a stunt like this ... Wrong time, wrong place, wrong occupation.

This.

[BigCat]

Originally Posted by SNIPERBBB

I wish these organizations would stop throwing the First Amendment around. They obviously do not know what it means, nor do the protestors. 1A protects you from the government putting you in jail for your speech, any other entity can tell you to go pound sand.

Who pays the officials and makes up the association? There's your state action. And jail isnt a requirement. And I'm not a fan of the protest,but, seeing Jacksonville punt every time I flip the channel to that game has more to do with me not watching. Bad football. Been a lot of bad boring games...

[DRJ1960]

Recently worked a game with a partner who asked what I would do if he knelt during the Anthem.

What would you do?

[BigCat]

Originally Posted by DRJ1960

Recently worked a game with a partner who asked what I would do if he knelt during the Anthem.

What would you do?

Do my job

[Texas Aggie]

Let's get a quick primer on the first amendment: it says CONGRESS shall make no law... Now, over time, that has been interpreted (wrongly in my view) to other government entities such as school districts by way of the 14th amendment. Without going into a lot of detail, the gist is this: the state can't punish you for what you say. The top tier of "protected" speech is political speech, but religious, commercial, personal, etc. is equally protected. Some argue, incorrectly, that "hate" speech isn't protected, but it is just like anything else. Also, actions such as flag burning have been protected under the first amendment. This is another bizarre, and incorrectly decided, case on the supreme court.

Even with protected speech, there can be time, place, and manner restrictions that are constitutional. Public schools are public property, but I can't go in there and start putting campaign signs up or start selling t-shirts without the school's permission. Even the kids can't disrupt the classroom just to say what they think. There's no issue in the school regulating things like this.

In general, government employees can be so regulated. A bailiff in a courtroom, for example, is going to get fired if he interrupts a trial telling everyone why they should vote for _____. He's in a public place but he doesn't have complete free speech rights.

We are there to officiate the game -- no more or no less. If you want to protest, go buy a ticket. State and assigning bodies are perfectly able to restrict ANY conduct by the contractors they hire to officiate. We're going to be in for a long night if a partner of mine tries to pull a stunt like this. I can't believe this so-called organization is telling people what they have to do in order to protest. Tell them they can't and if they can't handle that, then they are free to do other things.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by DRJ1960

Recently worked a game with a partner who asked what I would do if he knelt during the Anthem.

What would you do?

Most you could do is address it with your assignor.

I would, as posted above, do my job. I would stand there with my hand over my heart like I've always done. I'm retired military. My dad and step-mom are retired military. My first wife is retired military. I'm paying my respect to the country that I love despite its many maladies and imperfections. What someone else does during the national anthem does not affect how feel and how I conduct myself.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

...We're going to be in for a long night if a partner of mine tries to pull a stunt like this. I can't believe this so-called organization is telling people what they have to do in order to protest. Tell them they can't and if they can't handle that, then they are free to do other things.

A long night how? You're going to be a crappy ref that night b/c you'll be focusing on what your partner did during the pregame? You're going to give him a lecture after the game?

I am very interested in what this long night will consist of.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Most you could do is address it with your assignor.

I would, as posted above, do my job. I would stand there with my hand over my heart like I've always done. I'm retired military. My dad and step-mom are retired military. My first wife is retired military. I'm paying my respect to the country that I love despite its many maladies and imperfections. What someone else does during the national anthem does not affect how feel and how I conduct myself.

Exactly as I would do. And I would still have a beer with my partner after the game.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Most you could do is address it with your assignor.

I would, as posted above, do my job. I would stand there with my hand over my heart like I've always done. I'm retired military. My dad and step-mom are retired military. My first wife is retired military. I'm paying my respect to the country that I love despite its many maladies and imperfections. What someone else does during the national anthem does not affect how feel and how I conduct myself.

Even though I am not a retired military, but my father was and is buried in a veteran cemetery. I have for some time now put my hand over my heart as an official for that reason. It really has nothing to do with what I do as a personal citizen when hearing the same anthem. But that is what I would do. I do not think this is worth the fight, even if I might agree with the overall protest on some level. My job is to officiate the game, not make any major statements. I can express my opinion in other ways.

Peace

[RefBob]

There is a time and place for everything. In my opinion, using your very visible presence in stripes on the court to make your own (adult) personal political statement before a kids sporting event is the wrong time and place. The game is about the kids and not you. If the kids want to express themselves by taking a knee during the anthem, fine - the game is their event and forum. The game is not about me and my personal political views. I am only there to help the kids have a better game experience.

[APG]

Originally Posted by DRJ1960

Recently worked a game with a partner who asked what I would do if he knelt during the Anthem.

What would you do?

Work the game...what else is there to do?

[bballref3966]

NCHSAA: No set protocol for protests - News - The Daily News - Jacksonville, NC

First I've heard of this incident in NC.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by APG

Work the game...what else is there to do?

I guess one could lie face first on the floor and throw a tantrum or something.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by DRJ1960

Recently worked a game with a partner who asked what I would do if he knelt during the Anthem.

What would you do?

Ignore it. Completely.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Adam

I guess one could lie face first on the floor and throw a tantrum or something.

That would be effective in drawing attention away from the protester.