Kansas State football players appear poised to boycott team activities until action is taken against a K-State student who posted a tweet mocking the death of George Floyd.
The tweet, which was removed by Twitter for violating its rules, caught the attention of K-State football players, who in turn posted statements on their own social media profiles announcing their intent to boycott until action is taken by the University according to CBS Sports.
“Due to the recent disparaging, insensitive, and unsettling comments made by a fellow student, we as a football team, after consultation with students from campus organizations as well as students from the general student body, feel it is best for us to stand with the students,” the player statement reads. “We are demanding that Kansas State University put a policy in place that allows a student to be dismissed for displaying openly racist, threatening or disrespectful actions toward a student or groups of students. We have resolved that we cannot play, practice, or meet until these demands are heard and actions taken. We love Kansas State but we must stand together and protect all students moving forward.” K-State receiver Joshua Youngblood was among the student-athletes to share the message.
No comment ... 23 out until further notice pic.twitter.com/zX8Z0W7UK5
— Joshua Youngblood (@YB060) June 27, 2020
The players’ stance generated a response by both head coach Chris Klieman and athletics director Gene Taylor.
Our program and our coaches will continue to be part of the solution when it comes to racial injustice. I love our players and they know I have their backs.
— Chris Klieman (@CoachKli) June 26, 2020
Recent tweets from a K-State student downplaying the Black Lives Matter effort and the tragic and senseless death of George Floyd are disgusting and totally inappropriate and not reflective of who we are as a University or our Athletic Department.
— Gene Taylor (@KSTATEADGT) June 26, 2020
Meanwhile, university president Richard Myers condemned the incendiary tweet in a statement, and said that the school was reviewing its options for how to proceed.
“The insensitive comments posted by one K-State student hurts our entire community,” Myers’ statement reads. “These divisive statements do not represent for the values of our university. We condemn racism and bigotry in all its forms. We are launching an immediate review of the university’s options. Black Lives Matter at Kansas State University and we will continue to fight for social justice.”
