Kirk McDuffie: Students have rights to protest

Regarding the Oct. 6 Barry Saunders column “Two different ECU band protests, both worthy of our respect”: He is absolutely correct in stating that the East Carolina band members that protested the national anthem had every right to do so. They did not deserve to be spit upon or have anything thrown at them; the booing was very much appropriate.

Where Saunders is wrong is in his comment to the chancellors calling the act disrespectful. It was a crock. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Those students have the right to protest because of those who fought and died and those who fought and lived for our nation’s flag. The student’s acts were absolutely disrespectful. Saunders is showing his complete lack of understanding of how and why the right to protest exists. Maybe a few more history lessons would have enlightened him.

This story was originally published October 8, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Kirk McDuffie: Students have rights to protest."