UNC students protest during national anthem

A group of spectators in the North Carolina student section wore black shirts and remained seated during the national anthem before the Tar Heels’ game against Pittsburgh on Saturday. While the anthem played, those who remained seated raised their fists.

The group included about 75 people, both black and white. Protests of the national anthem have spread in recent weeks since Colin Kaepernick, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback, began kneeling during the anthem in the NFL preseason.

The anthem protest at UNC came days after Keith Scott, a black man, was shot and killed by a black police officer in Charlotte. Scott’s death has inspired protests throughout the city. Other cities have erupted in similar unrest after black men have died at the hands of police.

This story was originally published September 24, 2016 at 7:06 PM with the headline "UNC students protest during national anthem."