Two New Jersey referees who were set to officiate during a high school football game in New Jersey, walked off the field when the students took a knee to take part in Kaepernick’s protest during the playing of the national anthem.
And one of the refs made his feelings very clear afterward, saying the anthem protest movement “pisses me off.”
Referees Ernie Lunardelli and his son, Anthony, stood on the field with their hands over their hearts as the anthem played, but left as soon as the song ended because they witnessed members of the Monroe Township High School team taking a knee instead of standing.
Ever since former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee to protest police brutality and racial injustice, his protest has taken like wildfire. People who support his cause have joined him, kneeling during the national anthem, to raise awareness around the issue. But those who feel patriotic about the flag and who have pride in the United States military are not happy about this form of protest because they feel it is an insult to America.
Both Lunardellis said they felt that the act of kneeling during the anthem was a sign of disrespect for the country, the flag, and our soldiers.
“Anybody that disrespects the flag, in my eyes, it’s not right,” the elder Lunardelli, said. “What they are doing with this kneeling and everything, they have the right do to that, but the national anthem has nothing to do with them kneeling. The flag has got nothing to do with why they are protesting. If they want to protest, let them protest, but don’t disrespect our country, the flag, and the armed forces.”
“They’ve got a right to protest and so do we,” the younger Lunardelli, a graduate of Monroe High School, said. “That (taking a knee during the anthem) is not how I was brought up, and that’s not how I was raised. I’m not criticizing their right. That’s just my viewpoint.”
Ernie can’t understand why the protests have to go on during the anthem. He recognizes everyone’s right to protest, but he doesn’t know why it has to go on during the pregame ceremony when it should be all about football.
“Whoever is disrespecting that flag and the national anthem, that’s who I have a problem with. That’s my protest. I don’t care if it’s a baby if it’s an 80-year-old man, anybody. I don’t care. Any race, color, I don’t care who it is. It’s not the way I was brought up, and it pisses me off that people are doing that.”
The Lunardellis also warned the schools ahead of time that they would not officiate if any players took a knee during the anthem.
School officials said they planned to retaliate against the officials and will file a complaint with the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Apparently, the school is supportive when players want to protest but not when officials do.
“They are trying to get them to not give us any more games, basically saying we put the players’ safety in danger, but we didn’t,” Anthony Lunardelli told the paper. “They obviously had enough officials to do the game. I’m not really worried about (being sanctioned). If I don’t ref again, it won’t be the end of the world.”
After the Lunardellis walked off the field, they were replaced with two cadets on the chain crew. Ernie does not think the game was official because of that.
“That game should not count now because they did not have the right personnel on the field,” he said. “These kids weren’t officially carded and trained, so they’re putting the kids in jeopardy. I’m not.”
Ernie already has his lawyer on hand to fight the game.
“I have a lawyer already set up because they’re not going to run me out of town,” Ernie said.
But Ernie said he already received a letter relieving him of his spot officiating at the next game.
Watch the video below:
Source: AWM
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