A sailor in the US Navy appears likely to face punishment after protesting the national anthem while on base in Florida, CNN reports. The sailor, who the Navy isn't identifying, filmed herself sitting during the anthem—all service members are required to stand and face the flag—and the video somehow ended up on a Facebook page called US Army Military Police WTF Moments. It came to the attention of the Navy Aug. 31. According to Navy Times, the sailor, who's currently in training, won't be discharged, but a Navy spokesperson says "appropriate administrative actions are pending." While sailors do have restricted freedom of speech, they are allowed to protest as long as they are out of uniform and off base.
The sailor says she's "proud" of her decision to protest the national anthem, an action she calls "small but significant" for her, WEAR reports. In the video, the sailor says she's sitting in support of Colin Kaepernick and will continue to sit for the national anthem until the US proves "they've got my back as a black woman." In addition to protesting the unfair treatment of people of color, the sailor says she's protesting the third stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner, which some historians say alludes to the killing of slaves. The sailor says it's important to note that the men and women of the military aren't fighting and dying to protect the flag but the rights it represents, including the right to protest. (More national anthem stories.)
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