A first amendment rights group is concerned about Governor Landry’s push that colleges mandate all student-athletes be present during the national anthem. Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression Director of Campus Rights Advocacy Alex Morey says Landry’s request ties students to support his beliefs and views.
“Theres this subtext that they must feel the exact same way as Governor Landry does about the national anthem and people who have served under the flag.”
The first amendment in the U-S constitution protects students from being required to pledge allegiance or salute the U-S flag in public schools.
Morey says what’s more concerning is that LSU may possibly comply with Landry’s request. She says students are free to choose how or whether they want to demonstrate patriotism.
“Government actors can’t put those words in student-athlete mouths. They can not say if you do this it means that you express a particular sentiment. The first amendment prohibits that instead student athletes have their own expressive rights.”
Morey says there is nothing less patriotic than government actors forcing their personal views on citizens.
“It makes a poor estimation of why people would want to be patriotic in the first place if we have to force them to be patriotic, that says something about our American system.”
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