Free Republic

Millions of Americans have applauded the NFL players who have taken a knee during the national anthem, but not the women whose job it is to root for the teams — the cheerleaders. They have been noticeably absent from the year-long drama that has divided football fans and outraged President Donald Trump and their reasons range from not wanting to undermine the team — to not wanting to lose their prized spot on the squad. "Definitely the financial compensation isn’t high enough where you’re concerned about paying rent … but certainly if you’re creating waves you could lose your spot,”...

High school football games are typically considered to be good entertainment for the entire family. Maybe an older sibling is playing, so parents come with their younger children to watch them play and have fun all together. So given that high school football games are typically family events, it’s not surprising that parents were outraged when they saw what these cheerleaders were wearing. A video uploaded to FlyHeight shows cheerleaders performing in outfits that appear to be closer to lingerie than to cheerleading uniforms. Each cheerleader, believed to be from a high school in Miami, holds a bag and a...

Police are investigating a Denver high school's administration after video surfaced of cheerleaders being forced into doing splits, NBC affiliate KUSA reported. The video shows an incoming freshman at East High School surrounded by teammates and a coach in June during the first week of cheer camp. The girl screams in pain and repeatedly cries "please stop" as the group tries to force her legs into a split. KUSA received seven similar videos. The school's principal, cheer coach, assistant cheer coach and an assistant principal, as well as Denver Public Schools deputy general counsel, have been placed on leave during...

The Raiderettes had reason to cheer Wednesday, as the the proceeds from a $1.25 million settlement was distributed to nearly 100 women who worked as cheerleaders for the Oakland Raiders The lawsuit, the first filed on behalf of cheerleaders in the NFL, claimed the Raiders failed to pay their cheerleading squad minimum wage for the hours they worked, failed to pay overtime, and failed to reimburse thousands of dollars of incurred expenses from 2010-14. Women who danced as Raiderettes for multiple seasons will receive over $20,000. The class action suit was brought by Raiderettes Lacy T. and Sarah G., whose...

Coastal Carolina University’s cheerleading squad has been suspended after allegations team members worked as strippers and escorts. A criminal investigation reveals some cheerleaders were paid $100 - $1,500 per date. A criminal investigation report obtained from Coastal Carolina University alleges that some members of the CCU cheer team worked as strippers and escorts. Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/news/state/south-carolina/article143169714.html#storylink=cpy

An adult sponsor for a West Texas high school cheer team has died and seven people were injured after a crash involving an 18-wheeler and a school bus carrying cheerleaders late Friday. The incident occurred on Interstate 20 in Big Spring as the Iraan High School cheerleaders headed back to Iraan after a playoff game against Munday High School in Colorado City, about 40 miles east of the scene, YourBasin.com reports. The bus had about 120 miles left to reach Iraan, which is south of Big Spring. [Snip] Of the eight people taken to Scenic Mountain Medical Center, two...

It's always wonderful when karma comes calling at the right time, and for one school principal along with his band of bratty cheerleaders, that day came just at the right time. They thought no one would find out about the sick thing they did to World War II veterans, but once the word got out, the backlash was so enormous, it went on to make national news. On September 30, 12 cheerleaders from Cornell High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, decided to take a knee during the national anthem. While we’ve gotten used to these disgusting displays of disrespect across...

A school has been criticised after punishing a whole cheerleading squad after a male student said he was distracted by their short skirts. The student at Timpview High School had “impure” thoughts after seeing the squad in their uniforms, People reports, and so his mother wrote to the school and complained. After the formal complaint was made, rather than helping the male student to deal with the thoughts, the Utah school’s administrators appear to have punished the whole cheerleading squad. Administrators told the cheerleading coach at the school, who told the 44-strong cheerleading squad that they should not wear their...

Athletes across the country have been sitting or kneeling during the national anthem in recent weeks to protest police brutality and racism. But a football game in Washington, D.C. may mark the first time a squad of cheerleaders has taken a knee during the song. Cheerleaders at Howard University joined a national protest on Saturday afternoon by kneeling during the anthem at the AT&T Nation's Football Classic at RFK Stadium.

University Of Washington Cheerleading Squad Receive Backlash For 'Ideal Cheerleader' Checklist [VIDEO] The University of Washington cheerleading squad received backlash from social media after posting a cheerleader checklist for their tryouts. (Photo : Ethan Miller/Getty Images) The infographic "Cheer and Dance Tryout Look" was posted by the University of Washington cheerleading team for their upcoming tryouts. The team received backlash from students and other critics who said that the poster was sexist as it told women to look a certain way to qualify. NBC News reports that the poster was first posted on University of Washington's Facebook page this week....

The University of Washington removed an infographic Tuesday that gave prospective cheerleaders tips on how to do their hair and makeup for tryouts after strong social media backlash. The graphic advised women to wear their hair “straight or curled” along with “false eyelashes” and “flattering eye shadow.” It discouraged women from wearing “distracting fingernail polish” or “tops that cover the midriff.” The Seattle Times reported the advice along with a photo of a white woman in blond hair posing in a black sports bra was posted on the cheerleading team’s Facebook page. The post was removed before 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The New York Jets have agreed to pay nearly $324,000 to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by cheerleaders over wages. The suit was filed in Bergen County, New Jersey, where the NFL team plays. The 52 women said they were paid $150 per game and issued uniforms. But they said they were not paid for practices and other work and were forced to pay for their makeup, hair care and transportation.

They boost their teams from the sidelines and promote them by appearing in calendars and at fan events, but some sports cheerleaders say they are still not considered team employees and are paid what amounts to less than minimum wage. California legislation believed to be the first of its kind in the nation is set to change that. The bill approved by the state Senate on Monday and sent to the governor for his signature would require that cheerleaders be paid at least minimum wage and overtime and sick leave if they work for professional sports teams based in California....

Legislative committee hearings aren’t known for their heart-pounding excitement. But, you might hear a round of cheers to excite the crowds at this week’s Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism & Internet Media Committee. On Tuesday, the committee is scheduled to consider a proposal by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, that would provide greater labor protections for professional cheerleaders. Assembly Bill 202, which scored a 5-2 win in the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment earlier this month, would protect cheerleaders of professional sports teams from workplace abuses by classifying them as employees, not independent contractors.

A new bill introduced Thursday in the California Assembly would provide cheerleaders of professional sports franchises with employee benefits and a minimum wage guarantee. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) introduced AB 202 on Thursday in “a move that will better protect cheer athletes in the state from workplace abuses and bring equity to the multi-billion dollar professional sports landscape.”

From an author who observed women come and go at a busy abortion clinic: The core of the pro-choice trench [the escorts] belongs to young student volunteers from “Cutler College”… They jokingly call themselves the “Cheerleaders of Death”… They erupt in laughter about the nickname, and talk about getting black cheerleading uniforms (with skulls) and learning “death cheers.” — James D Slack, Abortion, Execution, and the Consequences of Taking Life (New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers, 2009), 53. Reprinted from Clinicquotes.

A few years back I worked with a guy who was probably a genius. In fact, he often struggled in life interacting with people because his brain simply performed at a higher level than the average person. I remember asking him what his biggest belief was in making life decisions and he always, without fail, told me “think of the bigger picture.” And while I’ve always tried to be a big picture thinker, knowing him when I did helped me understand it a little better. He always told me the biggest issue he faced when dealing with people was that...

School district officials were investigating a photo circulating on social media on Wednesday of a group of cheerleaders from Redlands East Valley High School posing in what appeared to be gang attire. The picture showed some of the girls had stuffed their shirts to look pregnant, while others flashed gang signs and were holding simulated weapons. Reaction to the photo was mixed. One parent commented “it’s really sad,” after viewing the photo on Facebook. Another parent thought it was just a harmless joke. “I think they’re just being teenagers, having fun, being silly,” parent Sherry Garcia said.

The Great NFL Sideline Rebellion of 2014 strikes again.. A former professional cheerleader for the New York Jets filed a wage-theft lawsuit against the team Tuesday, making the Jets the fourth NFL team this year to be sued by cheerleaders for allegedly violating state labor laws.