Some North Texas high school football players kneel during anthem

Some North Texas high school football players kneeled during the national anthem before Friday’s games.

Their actions came in the wake of a week of controversy initiated one week ago when President Donald Trump attacked NFL players for kneeling during the anthem to protest police brutality.

Numerous players on the Garland High School team kneeled during the anthem and raised their fists up at the end of its playing. It was the second GISD school to protest, as 18 players at Garland Lakeview Centennial also kneeled during the anthem at their game Thursday.

Other teams, like Cedar Hill and DeSoto, chose to stay in the locker room during tonight's anthem. They did the same thing last year when they played.

Cheerleaders, though, were on the sidelines for the anthem and stood this year -- a contrast to last year when some knelt.

Neither team took a knee at Plano East vs Wylie, where parents had split opinions about the protests occurring throughout the country.

“That's their opinion, what they want to do. They have the right to do what they want to do. It's what this country about. It's freedom of speech, freedom to express yourself,” said parent Wally Cisnero.

Another parent felt differently.

“I think they should stand and honor our country,” said James Brumit. “There's a time and place to do everything and this isn't one of them.”

With the debate on the anthem in the NFL this week, some coaches at Frisco ISD asked the district how they should handle students kneeling.

Frisco ISD said it responded to coaches by saying, "Should a Frisco ISD player choose to kneel during the national anthem, he or she should be permitted to do so without repercussion under the First Amendment."

Texas State Rep. Patrick Fallon who represents the area and has kids in the district took issue with that stance.

“When you're a part of something greater than yourself, like on a football team and you're wearing the uniform that has your schools name on it, your school colors, you're also speaking for that school and that district and that community,” Fallon said.

Frisco ISD said their response to coaches isn't an official school policy, but rather administrators giving guidance to their coaches.