The South Carolina women's basketball team sparked backlash after missing the on-court national anthem before their NCAA Final Four appearance Friday night.
The Gamecocks were nowhere to be seen before their game against against Louisville - a game they won, before ultimately taking down UConn 64-49 to win the women's national championship Sunday night.
The protest, orchestrated by head coach Dawn Staley, has been ongoing since the middle of the 2020-21 college basketball season.
The South Carolina Gamecocks players huddle before their game against the Louisville having missed the national anthem by remaining in their locker room
South Carolina have remained in their locker room all season during the pregame ritual playing of the national anthem - but this is the first time their opponents decided to head to the court while the anthem played.
Some Cardinal players could be seen wearing shirts with a message on the back that read: 'No person in the United States, shall on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.'
Staley previously said the decision was part of an effort to 'bring awareness to racial injustice in our country.'
'If opposing teams choose to play the anthem during the time we're in the locker room, then we choose to stay in the locker room,' she said.
'I love our country, too. I don't like what our country has come to, or what our country has been, but I'd like to think that there are people in our country that's going to lead us more in a unified way than a divisive way, and I'm here for that.'
We need a new rule: If your entire starting lineup isn't on the floor and standing for the National Anthem you forfeit the game. No kneeling and no hiding in the locker room.
ReplyDeleteEven better, if they don't come out for it, Everyone in the stands leaves after the Anthem and they flood the ticket office demanding a refund. Juss' sayin'...
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