Three Nebraska Cornhuskers showed their solidarity with Colin Kaepernick by taking a knee during the national anthem before Saturday's game at Northwestern. Michael Rose-Ivey, Mohamed Barry and DaiShon Neal are among the growing number of athletes who have joined Kaepernick's protest against police brutality and systemic racism in the U.S.
In a meeting prior to the game, Michael Rose-Ivey shared with the team why he planned to kneel during anthem. https://t.co/4szIy5BY8w pic.twitter.com/KZixBzPLD6
— Brian Christopherson (@HuskerExtraBC) September 25, 2016
Before the game, Rose-Ivey spoke with his teammates, who wholeheartedly supported his actions. But on Monday, Rose-Ivey revealed the disturbing comments they received on social media, some of which called for the players to be "lynched or shot."
Nebraska's Michael Rose-Ivey with a powerful statement in today's press conference. Says fans told him he should "be hung before the anthem" pic.twitter.com/NJjEMnUYhd
— Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) September 26, 2016
"As a young, black man, I cannot hide from these realities," Rose-Ivey said. "As a child of the most high, I cannot hide from my responsibilities to be a voice for those who cannot speak loud enough to reach those that can help change the reality, or the voices that continue to be ignored or muted ... those who are continuously told that it is their fault that their problems exist, that only if they do better, then they will have better, that if you just pull up your pants etc., etc., you can fill in your own 'What if?' but it's not so simple. It's not so clear.
"I can say that with confidence, because even though I have done better, even though I am a college graduate, even though I am blessed and fortunate to play college football at the highest level, and at one of the most prestigious schools in college football, even though I am a healthy being, and even though I am fully conscious, I have still endured racism. I was still referred to Facebook and Twitter as a clueless, confused n***er, by former high school classmates, friends, peers, and even Husker fans. Some believe DaiShon, Mohamed, and myself should be kicked off the team or suspended, while some say we deserve to be lynched or shot, just like the other black people that have died recently. Another believe that, since we didn't want to stand for the anthem, then we should be hung before the anthem for the next game.
"These are actual statements we received from fans."
Here's the full press conference:
Earlier Saturday, players from Michigan and Michigan State raised their fists to show their support of Kaepernick's movement. For Nebraska, Rose-Ivy made it clear that despite the racist backlash he and his teammates received, they will not stop protesting.
-- Follow Megan O'Brien on Twitter @MeganOBsports.
