When the national anthem was played ahead of the MEAC Tournament quarterfinal game featuring Howard and South Carolina State, the Bison women’s basketball team was not on the court.
Instead, the team stayed in the locker room, upholding their commitment to social justice causes under a new university policy that restricts kneeling during the national anthem at athletic events.
MEAC Player of the Year Zennia Thomas, who scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Howard’s 75-43 win over the Bulldogs, expressed commitment to their morals despite restrictions, vowing to find ways to protest without compromising convictions.
“Coach Ty (Grace) has instilled in us that it’s bigger than kneeling,” she said. “We’re supporting a cause that’s been going on since 2020. At the end of the day, unfortunately, we have to abide by certain rules, but we’re going to stand on our beliefs and our morals.”
Players standing on beliefs
This protocol was created following the Bison women’s basketball team kneeling before a December game against the United States Military Academy, according to The Hiltop, the school’s student newspaper.
“It’s about standing on our beliefs and sticking to supporting our morals and not letting anything deteriorate that,” said Thomas.
Howard athletic director Kery Davis said in a statement that the school wants to support expression “while upholding mutual respect for all communities.”
“There have been thoughtful internal conversations between athletics leadership, coaches and student-athletes regarding pregame protocols,” Davis said.
Davis explained the women’s basketball program had been kneeling for the anthem “since COVID, especially when all the social justice things were happening. All the young men and women Black of color [who] were passing away from the hands of police brutality, we decided to take a stand against social injustice.”
Coach stands by Howard players
Tyson praised the squad’s handling of the situation, stating, “I’m proud of them… when we come together as a team, we’re going to have each other’s back and stand together.”
