People Have Refused to Stand for the Flag for Over a Century
The Claim
Refusing to stand for the flag during the National Anthem is a recent phenomenon.
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Emerging story
Hammer thrower Gwen Berry turned her back during the National Anthem at the recent U.S. Olympic Trials. Shortly thereafter, former Governor Scott Walker wrote that “growing up, everyone stood for the American flag.” Discussion of the claim soon took off on social media.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s investigation found that, contrary to Walker’s assertion, people have been protesting the National Anthem and refusing to stand for the flag since the early 20th century.
During World War I, refusing to stand for the National Anthem was a common form of protest. In 1917, supporters of Emma Goldman were ejected from court for not standing during the National Anthem in New York.
Since Walker was born in 1967, anything from then until he turned 18 in 1985 would constitute “growing up.”
In 1968, NFL player David Meggyesy refused to salute the flag during the National Anthem. Also in 1968, basketball player Chris Wood refused to stand during the National Anthem, saying: “We believe in the fellowship of man. We don't believe in nationalism.” Athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists during the anthem at the 1968 Olympics.
In 1970, five students in Maryland and two students in Texas made headlines for refusing to stand. In 1971, people in Wyoming, Illinois, California, and Louisiana refused to stand. In 1972, two American Olympics runners failed to stand at attention during the anthem. In 1973, Rhode Island students refused to stand during the National Anthem. In 1978, an Ohio student refused to stand during the anthem at music practice.
There have been dozens of other incidents of people refusing to stand during the National Anthem from the 1990s until now, but we won’t go through them since Walker was grown up by that time.
Walker was born in Colorado and raised in Wisconsin. Misbar could not find instances of people refusing to stand for the flag in those specific states between 1967 and 1985, so it is within the realm of possibility that everyone Walker knew growing up stood for the flag. However, anyone with media literacy should have been aware of the many National Anthem protests taking place during this time. Since there were dozens of headline-making times that people didn’t stand up for the American flag while Walker was growing up, we rate this claim as false.
