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Several basketball players from the University of Mississippi kneel in the national anthem before a college basketball match against Georgia in Georgia, Oxford, Missouri on Saturday.
(Nathanael Gabler / The Oxford Eagle via AP)
Several members of the University of Mississippi basketball team knelt during the match "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Saturday's home game against Georgia, in response to a pro-Confederacy rally which was taking place near the team's arena in Oxford, Missouri.
Initially, six school players, known as "Ole Miss," took part in the protest, then two others joined them, reported the Associated Press.
"The majority was simply that we had seen one of our teammates do it and did not want him to be alone," said AP leader Breein Tyree, the leader of the scores for Ole Miss . "We are just tired of these hate groups coming into our school and describing our campus as if we had these hate groups in our current school."
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After the match, Mississippi coach Kermit Davis said he supported the players' right to protest during the anthem.
"All of this was about the hate groups that came into our community to try to spread racism and fanaticism," Davis told reporters at a news conference. "This has created a lot of tension on our campus, and our players have taken the emotional step of showing these people that they are not welcome on our campus and we respect the freedom of our players and their ability to choose. "
"It's all about the hate groups that have come to our community to try to spread racism and fanaticism. This has created a lot of tension on our campus. Our players made a moving decision to show these people that they are not welcome on our campus. we respect the freedom of our players and their ability to choose that. "
The reactions on social media reflected a wide range of opinions.
"It's America in one image," wrote a Twitter user. "Outside, raging white racists are waving flags of hatred as young men peacefully protect against hatred, nothing could be more American."
"Can you tell these basketball players to get up?" another Twitter user commented. "No need for empty gestures now, you knew who OleMiss was when you signed to play there."
A third person wrote: "I hope that they will understand this and that the school or teams will not allow it.This does not require politics in university sport."
Another commentator wrote: "Absolute shame, I never love Ole Miss, but I respected their basketball coach.No more.I would fire them.I would have them out of the gym before the match. . "
Outside the arena, pro-Confederation protesters demonstrated in the "square" of the campus, which was opposed by about 50 opponents, said Jackson's Clarion Ledger. The square houses a monument to Confederate soldiers who died during the civil war, according to the newspaper.
Mississippi guard Breein Tyree, left, speaks as head coach Kermit Davis listens at a news conference after the game, following an NCAA basketball game against Georgia Oxford, Missouri, Saturday, February 23, 2019. (Bruce Newman / The Oxford Eagle via AP)
A man identified as K-Rack Johnson, of the Confederate 901 group, told Clarion Ledger that Saturday's protest was a response to a November appeal by Students against social injustice for the monument to be removed. as a result of a recent trend to Confederate Monuments and Symbols, mainly in response to a protest in Charlottesville, Virginia, which resulted in the death of a woman.
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But Johnson said the monument to Ole Miss should stay where it is.
"It represents our ancestors," said Johnson at Clarion Ledger. "This represents all the deceased Confederate soldiers who are buried in these trenches across the country and who do not even carry markings, they are represented by these monuments, these monuments are intended for closure."
"It represents our ancestors, it represents all the dead Confederate soldiers who are buried in these trenches across the country and who do not even carry markings.They are represented by these monuments.These monuments are intended to be closed."
Earlier in the week, various student groups organized more protests against the monument.
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After Saturday's game, Ross Bjork, athletic director of Miss Athletic, joined coach Davis to support the players who protested.
"Our job is to teach and educate every day," said Bjork. "They are humans, they are students, they see what is happening on our campus, these people who come here spread hatred, fanaticism and racism, we do not want them on our campus." Our players fought for that. "
"It has nothing to do with the anthem, it has nothing to do with anything beyond what we do not want these people here, they protest during our match and this It's not just because it's not the Miss Ole I know. "
Ole Miss won the match, 72-71. Whether players face disciplinary action from their school, conference or NCAA remains unclear.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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