Bob Harper: Protest on their own time

Regarding the Oct. 6 Barry Saunders column “Two different ECU band protests, both worthy of our respect”: It seems that Saunders had a hissy fit when he learned that many of us were upset to see members of the East Carolina University marching band demonstrate their opinions about our wonderful nation.

When our national anthem was played 19 members of the band took a knee instead of showing respect for our country. Saunders said they have a right to do that because of our freedom of speech.

They do if their protest is done on their time and not when they are supposed to be working and, yes, their job was to operate as band members. If they made these protests outside the stadium before the game or after the game that would have been OK. Yes, they were supposed to be working; that is they had a job to do and an obligation to do that job.

If these so-called protesters refuse to do their jobs they should be fired, and then they can protest all they want on their own time and not in a location where our taxes are supporting.

This story was originally published October 8, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Bob Harper: Protest on their own time."