How Kansas State football players will promote racial equality at games this season
Kansas State football players will use the team’s first game of the season against Arkansas State as an opportunity to promote unity and racial equality at Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Saturday.
The Wildcats will begin making statements the moment they take the field for warmups against the Red Wolves before an 11 a.m. kickoff, as all players will wear special attire that features social justice phrases, including:
- “Unity”
- “It Takes All of Us”
- “Black Lives Matter”
- “Raise Your Voice.”
In addition, K-State will join every Big 12 football team on Saturday by displaying decals on the back of their helmets that read “Unity” underneath the conference logo. The Wildcats have also added a patch on their jerseys for Saturday’s game to show that Black lives matter.
K-State will play video messages from current student-athletes and coaches before the game that highlight their personal impact of recent events on their lives and there will be a special playing of the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
The K-State athletic department is referring to its game against Arkansas State as the football team’s Unity Game.
“We are proud of our student-athletes for stepping up and letting their voices be heard,” K-State athletic director Gene Taylor said in a statement. “Our department is committed to showing action being taken to eliminate social injustice, and we fully support our student-athletes’ methods of showcasing their unity and self-reflection.”
Another pre-game change that will take place all season: K-State will join other Big 12 schools in holding a moment of self-reflection and unity to underscore the need to end racism.
Similar demonstrations will take place at K-State soccer and volleyball games when they begin their seasons on Sept. 25.
This story was originally published September 10, 2020 at 11:46 AM with the headline "How Kansas State football players will promote racial equality at games this season."