Six members of the Ole Miss Rebels basketball team knelt during the playing of the national anthem prior to Saturday’s home game against Georgia.
Photos and video show the players kneeling during the anthem:
Several Ole Miss players knelt during the national anthem. pic.twitter.com/AU2OiWcC6F
— Neal McCready (@NealMcCready) February 23, 2019
PROUD of these men. #HottyToddy #OleMiss #kneel pic.twitter.com/9qI6oaBNJn
— wells taylor (@____wells____) February 23, 2019
The actions by the players come at a time of controversy and protest on the campus. At least two Confederate groups were planning protests on campus Saturday over the potential removal of Confederate symbolism on the college campus. A student group was planning a counter protest.
Ole Miss has taken measures in recent years to distance itself from some of its “Old South” imagery and symbolism. They dropped the “Colonel Rebel” mascot, which represented a caricature of a plantation owner. Dixie was removed from the school band’s playlist. Many even feel the nickname “Rebels” and “Ole Miss” are outdated terms that should be replaced.
The players kneeling during the anthem has connections to Colin Kaepernick, who knelt during the national anthem in the 2016 NFL season as a protest of social injustice and police brutality.
