A Miss America contestant was selected as one of Thursday’s preliminary winners, due partially to her response about NFL players kneeling in protest during the national anthem. Miss Virginia Emili McPhail was asked what advice she would give players about whether or not they should kneel during the national anthem.
McPhail said that players have “a right” to kneel, but added that “it’s also not about kneeling; it is absolutely about police brutality,” according to Fox News. The anthem protest — where players across the NFL take a knee during the national anthem played before games to protest police brutality and social injustice — has divided the country. President Trump has frequently criticized the NFL and the players who kneeled.
When asked if she was worried her views would alienate her, McPhail responded, “You’re entitled to your own opinion, but I stood up for what I believed was right,” according to Fox News.
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