5 minute read
“STANDING” STRONG
LAUREN HARDEN KNEELS FOR ANTHEM
As students grow into young adults, they are given the opportunity to change the world. However, as students remain labeled as children, the world can sometimes be reluctant to take student protests seriously. One of the few students to engage in a national protest at HSE, sophomore Lauren Harden kneels during the National Anthem at her volleyball games. “I kneel against an Anthem that was written about justice for all and not giving it,” Harden said. “I am not doing it out of disrespect, I do it because I do not want to show that I love a country that does not love me back” Harden has chosen to kneel for the National Anthem since her freshman year, in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement and defy racial inequality that remains in the United States. “I am not going to stand for a fl ag that oppresses black people or anyone of color,” Harden said. “I do it not just for me, but for other people of color that have to be worried whether or not they are going to make it home every single day of their lives.” But Harden’s protest, though it speaks loudly on her determination, has not come without self-doubt and scrutiny. Most of her doubts originated from protecting her family’s name. Trying not to hurt her family if her choice were to receive backlash. Harden additionally was accused of being forced to kneel by her parents, in which she became vocal in saying it was her own decision to protest. “One of the biggest doubts I had, when I chose to kneel, was how it was going to a ect my family,” Harden said. “I did not want people to think poorly of my family as a whole because they want to name-call and say these lies when again they never took the time to ask me personally or do their research into why a person of color would kneel.” Fearful of those who would judge her without understanding why Harden would kneel, Harden understood the stigma surrounding her protest, but it was a risk she wanted to take. “I knew I was going to get hate for kneeling, it comes with the territory sadly,” Harden said. “But I did have doubts about how much hate I was going to get.” Harden’s greatest doubts came from the name calling and online discrimination that followed her decision to kneel. Seeping into her school and athletic careers, she battled through the onslaught of opposing opinions. “I understood I would get online and verbal hate, but I was worried about physical issues,” Harden said. “A big doubt I had was how it was going to a ect me.” Though this is Harden’s second volleyball season where she decided to kneel, last year’s Covid restrictions were able to lessen the criticism Harden received as fewer people were attending sporting events. However, the school’s newfound school spirit has given more sporting fans an outlet to voice their opinions to the young volleyball player. Some question if the backlash is precedented as all protests receive such opposition, but others will argue if she should be scrutinized by fansconsidering her age. “This year since more people have been able to attend games more people have seen it,” Harden said. “I have had adults online talk about me and say what I am doing is ‘shameful’, ‘entitled’, ‘a sign of weakness’. I have been called a ‘douche’, ‘brat’, ‘attention seeker’, and more. I had someone call me ‘disgusting’ and posted online saying to ‘speak out against this garbage’ with a picture of me kneeling.” Harden’s courage can be seen as she proceeds to protests despite the social commentary, but Harden also deals with the knowledge that people are whispering about her in the stands. “Since I kneel, I cannot see people in the stands,” Harden said. “My dad will tell me how people will make comments and question what I am doing. Then there will always be people giving me dirty looks or saying out loud to other people that they do not like what I am doing with stronger language knowing I can hear.” Throughout all of the hate speech that has been directed at Harden, the support that goes out to her and her cause speaks louder than any verbal abuse, receiving the most support from her family. “My biggest supporters are my parents,” Harden said. “They have been by my side through the whole thing and I cannot thank them enough.” The support that Harden receives resonates throughout those who know Harden best. Harden’s coaches, peers, and mentors all know her story. They have become allies for Harden after seeing her passion. Afriad of dividng her volleyball team, Harden was skeptical of their support, but to her dismay Harden was supported by her coaches and teammates. “My coaches, the Athletic Department, and the teachers in the school have verbally told me multiple times that they support my choice to kneel, and if I ever have any problems to come and talk to any of them if I need it which I appreciate tremendously,” Harden said. “Many of my friends also support my decision and tell me all the time how they are proud of what I am choosing to do and have my back. The people who do not support me are people choosing not to listen to the reasons I am kneeling or never once asked me personally why I am kneeling.” Harden may kneel alone during the National Anthem, but she has a community supporting her and a cause she is serving. Harden shows all HSE students that they are not too young to speak out for their beliefs and bring attention to their cause. Story by Lauren Riina.
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