PA announcer at football game says those who don't stand for national anthem should be shot

A public-address announcer at a high-school football game in rural Alabama is in hot water for saying people who don't stand for the national anthem should be shot, Erin Edgemon reports for The Huntsville Times. During a game Friday night in McKenzie, Ala. (Best Places map), announcer Pastor Allen Joyner said: "If you don't want to stand for the national anthem, you can line up over there by the fence and let our military personnel take a few shots at you since they're taking shots for you."

Controversy has swirled around the National Football League over African American players who have refused to stand for the national anthem as a protest against oppression in the U.S. McKenzie has a population of 514.

While reports say the comment was cheered by those in attendance, and Facebook posts applauded Joyner, Butler County Schools Superintendent Amy Bryan wasn't happy, Edgemon writes. She said in an email, "Patriotism should be a part of school events, but threats of shooting people who aren't patriotic, even in jest, have no place at a school. Threats of violence are a violation of school policy and certainly not condoned by the school board." No action against Joyner has been reported. (Read more)