A sailor assigned to Naval Air Station Pensacola is the subject of a Facebook debate after she followed in the footsteps of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
The unnamed woman shared a video her Facebook page of her sitting during the playing of the National Anthem and holding up her left hand in protest. She was apparently on base, WEAR reported.
The video was shared on a military social media page where it has been viewed more than 53,000 times.
Lt. Commander Kate Meadows told WEAR that the Navy is aware of the video and disciplinary action is pending.
Meadows told the Navy Times that the sailor will not be discharged, but will move to her next command as planned.
When the National Anthem is played, members of the military are required to stand when they are either in or out of uniform, Meadows said.
The sailor ends the video, which contains explicit language, saying, "I don't not respect the men and women that serve, who I serve alongside. It's just until this country shows that they got my back as a black woman. They have my people's back and not even just being black I mean people of color, I can't and I won't. I won't be forced to."
Kaepernick has been sitting or kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem, saying it is a protest of the oppression of minorities in America, Fox Sports reported. Other members of the NFL and other big names in sports have been joining his protest.
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