Members of the Ames High School marching band made a political statement Friday night surrounding the playing of the National Anthem. Thirteen band members linked arms and walked off the field during the playing of "The Star Spangled Banner" prior to Friday's football game against Des Moines Lincoln. Additionally, an unknown number of band members remained on the field, but chose not to play their instruments during the anthem. Band members say they wanted to highlight inequality in the United States. The students originally planned to kneel, but the band members said Ames High principal Spence Evans told them they had to walk off the field instead.