Monday's CBS Evening News devoted a full report to a high school football team in Seattle whose players have been following the lead of the NFL's Colin Kaepernick in kneeling during the national anthem to protest against "racial inequality." As the report did not challenge at all the premise of minorities being mistreated generally, when detractors were mentioned, the two players featured were seen complaining that some "Caucasians" and "white males" were criticizing their actions.
The story was first brought up by host Scott Pelley as part of the show's opening tease:
SCOTT PELLEY: And a high school team takes a page from the Kaepernick playbook.
JASON NGUYEN, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: It's like institutionalized racism. That's what I'm taking a knee for.
In the final segment of the show, Pelley began by informing viewers of a recent apology by the leader of a police organization for past mistreatment of minorities: "Today, the head of the International Association of Chiefs of Police apologized for past mistreatment of people of color by police officers. Chief Terrence Cunningham of Wellsley, Massachusetts, called on police and communities to work toward trust."
The CBS host then segued to introducing the report about the group of high school football players connecting themselves to Kaepernick's agenda: "Police brutality is one issue San Francisco 49er Colin Kaepernick is protesting with his refusal to stand for the national anthem. Amid the controversy, some high schools are following Kaepernick's playbook, and here's Carter Evans."
Correspondent Carter Evans began the piece boosting the high school players' actions by declaring that part of the reason they can be considered to be "on a roll" is because of their political activism: "After years of losses, the Garfield Bulldogs are on a roll, winning every single game so far this season, in part because they're playing for a lot more than a football title."
After recalling that team members were initially skeptical of Kaepernick's behavior, then came a soundbite of one player -- Jason Nguyen -- recounting that he saw the light and began supporting the NFL player's cause after taking the time to learn more: "Our first initial thought was, 'Oh, why is he doing this and like disrespecting America?' But over time, I started to learn about it more."
After Evans remarked that the team members are now "taking a stand by taking a knee," there came soundbites for both of the featured players complaining about "police brutality" and "institutionalized racism":
JELANI HOWARD: I just want to see justice for all people and like for people to feel like the police brutality to stop.
JASON NGUYEN: It's the institutionalized racism. That's what I'm taking a knee for.
The CBS correspondent seemed to accept without question the premise that there is "racial inequality" as he then recalled: "The team has already met with the Seattle Police Department to talk about racial inequality."
After recalling that the school district and their coach support their actions, Evans took a moment to inform viewers of complaints that the school district in question has fewer resources than some others.
Nearing the end of the report, Evans got to the issue of those who disagree with the team's behavior: "But not everyone agrees. The team has been the target of hate messages on social media."
After displaying on screen a couple of critical Facebook messages, then came clips of the featured team members giving their response to critics, noting that most of their detractors are white:
NGUYEN: Most of the people who don't agree with us are mostly like Caucasian-
HOWARD: Yeah, white males.
NGUYEN: To be honest, for them, they really don't experience like what my other friends and my fellow teammates experience.
After devoting no time to disputing any of the claims about the general premise that there is substantial police mistreatment of minorities, the report sympathetically concluded:
CARTER EVANS, CBS CORRESPONDENT: It's tough to talk openly about racial inequality.
JOEY THOMAS, COACH: At the end of the day, teenagers just want to be heard. They want to feel like they have a voice.
EVANS: And sometimes all it takes is a silent gesture to start the conversation. Carter Evans, CBS News, Seattle.
Below is a complete transcript of the report from the Monday, October 17, CBS Evening News:
SCOTT PELLEY, IN OPENING TEASE: And a high school team takes a page from the Kaepernick playbook.
JASON NGUYEN, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: It's like institutionalized racism. That's what I'm taking a knee for.
(...)PELLEY: Today, the head of the International Association of Chiefs of Police apologized for past mistreatment of people of color by police officers. Chief Terrence Cunningham of Wellsley, Massachusetts, called on police and communities to work toward trust.
Police brutality is one issue San Francisco 49er Colin Kaepernick is protesting with his refusal to stand for the national anthem. Amid the controversy, some high schools are following Kaepernick's playbook, and here's Carter Evans.
CARTER EVANS: After years of losses, the Garfield Bulldogs are on a roll, winning every single game so far this season, in part because they're playing for a lot more than a football title.
JELANI HOWARD, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: For us to do this, I feel like a big change will come.
EVANS: When 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick chose not to stand for the national anthem, running back Jason Nguyen was not impressed.
JASON NGUYEN, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: Our first initial thought was, "Oh, why is he doing this and like disrespecting America?" But over time, I started to learn about it more.
EVANS: Daily team talks soon turned into action, and now the entire Bulldogs team is taking a stand by taking a knee. Jelani Howard is the team's tight end.
HOWARD: I just want to see justice for all people and like for people to feel like the police brutality to stop.
NGUYEN: It's the institutionalized racism. That's what I'm taking a knee for.
EVANS: They've got support from the Seattle school district and respect from their head coach, Joey Thomas.
EVANS: These kids are running the show?
JOEY THOMAS, HIGH SCHOOL COACH: Absolutely. And I believe in what they're doing, and I believe in the mission.
EVANS: The team has already met with the Seattle Police Department to talk about racial inequality, and they've published a list of concerns online, including academic inequality in their own school district. Garfield is in Seattle's inner city. The football field doesn't have lights or bleachers.
HOWARD: lf you go up north, they'll have like an engineering program, but when you come down here, we really don't have that.
EVANS: Why do you think that is?
HOWARD: I think it's like where you're located.
EVANS: But not everyone agrees. The team has been the target of hate messages on social media.
NGUYEN: Most of the people who don't agree with us are mostly like Caucasian-
HOWARD: Yeah, white males.
NGUYEN: To be honest, for them, they really don't experience like what my other friends and my fellow teammates experience.
EVANS: It's tough to talk openly about racial inequality.
THOMAS: At the end of the day, teenagers just want to be heard. They want to feel like they have a voice.
EVANS: And sometimes all it takes is a silent gesture to start the conversation. Carter Evans, CBS News, Seattle.
