Ole Miss’ football crew didn’t observe Friday and alternatively marched to The Square in downtown Oxford, Mississippi, to bring awareness to racial injustice in the place.
Coach Lane Kiffin participated in the march, and some of the players carried symptoms that go through: End law enforcement brutality.
As soon as at the Sq., users of the staff collected all around a Confederate statue and began chanting “No justice, no peace” as nicely as “Arms up, you should not shoot” and “Black lives subject.”
Linebacker Jacquez Jones posted a photo on his Twitter feed Friday of the gamers standing in entrance of the statue. His tweet browse: Stand Up For Absolutely nothing, Tumble For Everything #BLM.
Stand Up For Nothing at all, Drop For Nearly anything ✊🏾 #BLM pic.twitter.com/TS5x5WJst7
— Jacquez Jones (@ESPN_Jac) August 28, 2020
“As the Ole Skip football family, we are dedicated to improve,” the gamers explained in a statement released by the college. “Law enforcement brutality and other injustices developing across our nation have to conclusion, and our team stands united to embrace our variety and encourage a tradition of peace, equality and knowledge. No matter of our backgrounds, we all will need to hear to each individual other and master to regard and like our differences.”
“I satisfied with our leadership council past night time and asked how they wanted to make their voices read,” Kiffin mentioned. “It was a good dialogue, and this early morning, the group made a decision to march in unity and use their platform to deliver a concept. I am very pleased of our gamers coming collectively for justice and alter. We are heading to continue to function collectively to make improvements to the globe close to us for every person.”
In June, the Ole Miss gamers referred to as for the statue, which sits in front of the Lafayette County Courthouse, to be eradicated. In a online video, numerous gamers, like defensive conclusion Ryder Anderson, working back again Jerrion Ealy and linebacker MoMo Sanogo, requested the Lafayette Board of Supervisors to go the statue from its present-day area.
At Oklahoma, players marched to the university’s Unity Backyard, where by mentor Lincoln Riley spoke to reporters about the discussions the staff has had relating to social justice difficulties, such as yesterday soon after exercise.
#Sooners pic.twitter.com/cW0VoJnZn3
— Eric Bailey (@EricBaileyTW) August 28, 2020
“All those discussions have been tricky. They’ve been eye-opening,” Riley claimed. “They’ve been really emotional, very tense. They’ve provided each and every individual there not only an possibility to categorical themselves, but also, probably far more importantly, an prospect to pay attention to what other people have absent by way of, their activities. To end thinking about ourselves every single waking second and consider about our brothers and our sisters, and what they’re likely via and how we can aid.”
Right after Riley spoke, the Sooners paused to get a 57-second minute of silence in honor of Friday being the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
David Wilson contributed to this tale.
“Introvert. Avid gamer. Wannabe beer advocate. Subtly charming zombie junkie. Social media trailblazer. Web scholar.”