NC State athletes, coaches continue to protest social injustice
A group of N.C. State athletes have refused to remain silent as tensions rise in the country once again due to social injustices.
The hashtag #PackUnited started making the rounds on social media Thursday, with various Wolfpack teams, plus individual coaches and athletes posting messages in wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Blake, 29, was shot in the back seven times by police officers and was paralyzed after he ignored police orders and reached into his truck. Reminiscent of earlier this summer when George Floyd was killed, on camera, by police officers in Minneapolis, this recent officer-involved incident has sparked outrage across the country.
In Raleigh, several N.C. State athletes and coaches refused to remain silent.
Dave Doeren, head coach of the Wolfpack football team, posted a tweet Thursday night, showing his support of the #PackUnited movement.
“Proud to be a part of a diverse incredible group of men and women. I stand with them!!! #BlakeLivesMatter #JacobBlake”
Below Doeren’s tweet was a quote from George Lucas’ wife Mellody Hobson that said “It’s time we become comfortable with the uncomfortable conversations about race … Instead of being color blind, we need to be color brave.”
Doeren showed his support earlier this summer for junior linebacker Isaiah Moore, who led a student protest and march on campus in June after Floyd’s murder. A video was posted on the N.C. State athletics page, showing Moore holding a sign that said ‘Support the Athlete, Support the Movement.’
“We’re going to be athletes for just a short time period in our lives, but we are all people and we all have different issues that we go through everyday,” Moore said earlier this month. “I just feel like the fans who support us on the field should also support us in what we try to do as well as far as the issues we try to deal with on a daily basis.”
At the time, Doeren told the N&O that Moore and any athletes who wanted to speak up had his full support.
“I am proud of Isaiah for standing up and using his platform for what is right and just,” Doeren said. “It is more than just being fed up, frustrated, hurt, disappointed, confused, scared, and angry. I applaud Isaiah and all the students involved in this movement. I stand with them to support PackUnited and the Black Lives Matter cause for equality in our country.”
This time around, not all the fans have been fully supportive of players speaking out. Under some of the messages have been some ugly comments. Moore and his teammates have taken notice.
“Those of you (who) stand with us … THANK YOU! Those of you who choose to oppose and demean us … we see who are and won’t forget.”
Devin Leary, the starting quarterback for the football team, voiced his support of his teammates.
“Blows my mind how standing and speaking up for what is right becomes an issue in our world. SMH. #BlackLivesMatter.”
The football team wasn’t alone in their outcry. The women’s basketball team put out a statement Thursday evening.
“We will not be silent. We will use our voices as athletes on social media, during protest, and in the voting polls. We will demand change, we are tired. We are heartbroken.” The last line of the statement said “if you cannot support us as people, we do not want your support as athletes.”
Kevin Keatts, N.C. State men’s basketball coach took to Twitter as well, posting that he was tired, disgusted and fed up of having to “make sense” and explain what’s happening to his son and players.
The NBA boycotted games earlier in the week, refusing to take the floor and play games in the bubble in Orlando. Other pro leagues, including the WNBA, NHL and MLB followed suit. On Friday players from Ole Miss walked out of practice and marched to the town square. The entire Oklahoma football team came to the practice field wearing all black and walked from the stadium and through campus, locked in arms to show support and unity.
The Carolina Panthers canceled a scrimmage on Saturday so the team could get together and discuss social justice issues.
After leading the on-campus protest this summer, Moore said the athletes at N.C. State wouldn’t stop there.
“This is not just a one-time thing,” Moore said. “We are not just striking while the iron is hot, we’re going to continue to grow and keep the conversation going throughout the semester. This is something that will carry through the years and I can’t wait to be a part of it through the season.”
This story was originally published August 29, 2020 at 1:21 PM with the headline "NC State athletes, coaches continue to protest social injustice."
