Christie to Athletes: Protest National Anthem On Your Own Time

Gov. Chris Christie doesn’t think athletes — whether in the professional leagues, college or high school — should protest during games.

“It’s much more appropriate to do that on their own time,” Christie said Tuesday night on the “Ask The Governor” program on the Townsquare News Network.

Christie was asked what he felt about recent demonstrations by high school athletes and coaches in Camden and Newark, who followed San Francisco 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick's controversial kneeling during the national anthem to protest police treatment of minorities.

“I don’t believe that athletes should use the forum of their games to protest things that are outside of the games,” Christie said.

Instead, Christie said athletes should picket “in front of City Hall. Walk in front of the county courthouse, walk in front of the Statehouse on your own time.”

Newark school superintendent Christopher Cerf, who was Christie's former education commissioner, this week said he supported the decision by high school players in his district to quietly demonstrate during a recent game.

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey told Townsquare Media recently public school students are within their rights to take a knee or protest.