Oklahoma Bar Turns Off Sports Over National Anthem Protests

An Oklahoma bar said they won’t stand for athletes kneeling during the national anthem, so they’re changing the channel.

While they admit it may not be the best business decision, the owners of the Starlight Club in Ardmore said patrons wanting to watch the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS or NASCAR will have to go somewhere else. 

“I done this so our customers would know what to expect from us,” owner Ed Burton said. “I feel like it’s a very important issue it is in my opinion.”

Burton said he’s had it with what he calls the disrespect.

“That’s disrespectful to our country and to all the men and women that have fought for and died for this country, to give those people the right to protest in whatever way that they want to,” Burton said. “But we also have the right to protest against what they’re doing because we feel like that’s wrong.”

He said if the University of Oklahoma football team takes a knee before the home opener Saturday, he’ll add college football to the blacklist, too.

“If they take a knee, then I take the same position,” He said. “I don’t care who it is.”

On Tuesday, OU head football coach Lincoln Riley was asked about steps the Big 12 is taking to address racial inequality.

“It has nothing to do with throwing shame at any other races or skin colors, ethnicities. It’s about attention on our country, what can we all do to be better,” Riley said. “Anybody who takes it for anything more is not understanding what we as a team are trying to promote.”

Asked if the decision not to show sports will take a financial impact on his business, Burton said, “I don’t know if it will or not, but if the teams start taking a knee like that, then we won’t show them and business will come second to that.”

The club said they plan to show hunting, fishing and golf.