A group of Kansas State student-athletes of color say their members won’t participate in “all athletics-related events” unless the university takes action in the wake of a tweet from a student mocking the death of George Floyd .
In a statement released Friday by senior advocate Jonathan Alexander, the group called for “A policy created against racism that expels any student who openly displays racism on all platforms, including social media, school, Aggieville, and sporting events. “
Christianna Carr, a junior guard for the women’s basketball team, posted a similar statement with the same requests on her Twitter account, vowing not to play if those steps are not taken.
The group also asked that the student who sent the tweet, Jaden McNeil, “receive strong consequences.”
“We need to see changes to ensure our safety on and off campus,” the group said.
McNeil had tweeted Thursday afternoon, a month after Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer, “Congratulations to George Floyd for being drug-free for an entire month!”
McNeil’s tweet has been widely condemned by university leadership, including sports director Gene Taylor and soccer coach Chris Klieman, as well as by players.
Kansas State President Richard Myers said Friday that the university is launching an immediate review of its options.
“We condemn racism and intolerance in all its forms,” he said. “Black Lives Matter at Kansas State University and we will continue to fight for social justice.”
McNeil describes himself as the founder of a conservative group called America First Students, which according to the state of Kansas is not currently registered on campus due to lack of membership. America First Students had already sparked student anger over past statements made by McNeil. The students released a video last week under the hashtag #BlackAtKState and called for America First students to be removed from campus. And a petition has circulated on Twitter calling for the group to be kicked off campus because it spreads “hate rhetoric,” The Manhattan Mercury reported.
McNeil did not respond to a message to America First Students of The Associated Press seeking comment on Friday. He previously said that America First Students is a “conservative, Christian, and dominant organization that supports President Donald Trump.”
Freshman cornerback Tee Denson was one of the players who spoke out against McNeil’s tweet, saying he “would refuse to play on a show that tolerates ignorance like this.”
Senior defensive running back Walter Neil Jr. and sophomore wide receiver Joshua Youngblood also tweeted that they would not play for school unless McNeil is removed from campus. Since then, Youngblood deleted that tweet, but he also posted: “Soccer does not define myself or my teammates. We have emotions and we are normal people with real feelings. Playing is a sport is literally 10% of what we really are. “
Soccer does not define my teammates or myself. We have emotions and we are normal people with real feelings. Playing is a sport is literally 10% of who we really are.
– Joshua Youngblood (@ YB060) June 26, 2020
Taylor and Klieman criticized McNeil’s tweet and said they would not tolerate racial hatred on campus.
“The recent tweets from a K-State student who downplayed Black Lives Matter’s effort and George Floyd’s tragic and foolish death are disgusting and totally inappropriate and do not reflect who we are as a university or our athletic department,” said Taylor.
“Our program and our coaches will continue to be part of the solution when it comes to racial injustice,” said Klieman. “I love our players and they know I have my back.”
Dave Wilson of ESPN and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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