Gonzaga Law discusses legal aspects of the #TakeAKnee movement

A More Nuanced Look at #TakeAKnee

On October 16, over 50 Gonzaga law students, faculty, and staff joined Professor Inga Laurent to discuss the #TakeAKnee movement. Professor Laurent organized the forum and opened the discussion by reading an impressionistic poem that she wrote to reflect her complex, knotty thoughts sparked by Colin Kapernick’s protest and the nation’s response to him. Then Professors Ann Murphy, Jason Gillmer, and Lynn Daggett provided some background, context, and information about the #TakeAKnee movement, the way free speech has formed our cultural values, and how political speech is, and is not, protected in the work place.

The second half of the hour-long presentation turned to a nuanced discussion of the #TakeAKnee movement among the staff, students, and faculty attendees. The attendees addressed the issues with the same passion as before—but with a level of civility that allowed for a genuine exchange of ideas and a place to begin productive action. Gonzaga Law’s mission of Jesuit-based education encourages free and open inquiry which leads to ideas that can challenge and change the world.