SMU Band Members Kneel During National Anthem Before Game vs. TCU

Before Friday night's game between SMU and TCU, five black students from the Mustangs marching band took a knee while playing the national anthem from Ford Stadium in Dallas. 

They were joined by a contingent of supporters in SMU's student section on a night in which the school was honoring Dallas police and first responders who have been killed in action, per Max Olson of ESPN.com. 

Rattle and Hum Sports showed four of the five members of the marching band kneeling:

Examples of athletes and fans taking action during the national anthem has become more common after San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat before a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 26. 

He has sat or knelt in each of the 49ers' preseason games and two regular-season matchups since, explaining why he did so to NFL Media, via Steve Wyche of NFL.com:

"

I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.

"

Since his initial demonstrations, Kaepernick has been joined by notable athletes such as United States women's soccer midfielder Megan Rapinoe along with Miami Dolphins running back Arian Foster and the entire Indiana Fever team before a WNBA playoff game on Sept. 21.