The University of Kentucky football program confirmed that players walked out of practice this afternoon to join in the nationwide protest against racial injustice following the shooting death or Jacob Blake.
The message: “we stand together as UK football family”
We stand together as a @UKFootball family. pic.twitter.com/DaC48oXfNP
— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) August 27, 2020
“In 20 years, is it going to matter we didn’t practice on this Thursday? Probably not,” said Luke Fortner in a meeting with media after the protest. “But right now, we have an opportunity to do something with that platform.”
Really good stuff here from UK’s Josh Paschal and Luke Fortner after the team chose to skip practice today.
“In 20 years, is it going to matter we didn’t practice on this Thursday? Probably not. But right now, we have an opportunity to do something with that platform.” pic.twitter.com/xrOWzjOJyn— Dominique Yates (@RealDYates) August 27, 2020
“We are more than athletes,” said Josh Paschal.
Paschal added that it hurts to see UK fans put them down.
Josh Paschal says it hurts to see fans putting them down and viewing them as just athletes only.
“We can have opinions that may not be the same as theirs but we want you to see us as humans because we are humans. This is a human rights issue, not a political issue.”
— Tres Terrell (@TerrellTres) August 27, 2020
Kentucky football player Josh Paschal on the team walking out of practice in protest of police brutality: “We decided to use this time to address something that is more important than football.” pic.twitter.com/wpXjKI8sJO
— Paul Miles (@PaulMiles840) August 27, 2020
Photo: UK Athletics
