Fox News reports “Some NFL players have said they take a knee during the playing of the anthem to protest police brutality and social injustice.
The protest has deeply divided the country, with some calling it disrespectful to the American flag and the military. President Trump has repeatedly criticized the NFL and the players over their actions.
After the competition, McPhail was asked by reporters if she was concerned that her answer would alienate those with opposing views.
“You’re entitled to your own opinion, but I stood up for what I believed was right,” McPhail said.
The protest was started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, sparking a wave of blacklash and support. Kaepernick, who is not signed by a team, was recently announced as the newest face of Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign.
The third and final preliminaries of the beauty pageant will be held Friday and the next Miss America will be crowned Sunday in Atlantic City.
McPhail won $1,000 for the onstage question portion of the competition for her prompt choice of answer regarding the NFL players and her opinion regarding their ability to decide to kneel or not to kneel during the national anthem.”
And naturally, the pageant turned political turning to the topic of President Donald Trump. A contestant in the Miss America pageant was asked an onstage question on Friday evening regarding what she felt the most serious issue facing the nation was. Madeline Collins, Miss West Virginia, replied “Donald Trump is the biggest issue our country faces. Unfortunately, he has caused a lot of division in our country.”
She said it is important to let people in other nations know that, “We as Americans are supporting them and that we are there to help them.”