Alabama Football: Alabama Students Planning Protests
Alabama football will be at the epicenter of the college football world Saturday, and some of the University’s students have a statement to make.
A group of students at the University of Alabama is taking inspiration from San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The group is planning another seated protest of the national anthem ahead of Saturday’s top 10 showdown with Texas A&M. You can read more about what caused the protests from al.com here.
Students have been hashtagging their movement as #BamaSits on social media. Their goal is to raise awareness for ongoing racism at the university while simultaneously advancing Kaepernick’s (now) national movement.
According to al.com, a core group of out-of-state students say the movement represents
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‘growth in diversification’ at the University of Alabama. Alabama has been pursuing out-of-students, as their enrollment generates more revenue. Growing social tensions are thought to be caused by this increase in out-of-state students. The site also attributes the university’s growing out-of-state population to the success of the Alabama football program.
The protests do not end there, however. Protests cause more protests. It is seemingly just the way things work in college. #BamaSits is gaining traction, but a response group is underway as well.
In response to #BamaSits, a counter movement has risen up. #BamaStands is planning its own demonstration in response. The group obviously plans to stand, as well as wear patriotic attire during the anthem. The counter-movements have been building steam ahead of Saturday’s game. The group will need to actively recruit, though.
Around 30 students sat during Alabama’s October 1st home game, and now the movement is building toward a much larger number. Which protests wins out will be as interesting to some as the game itself, though it is possible neither receives much attention from the broadcast.
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While the Alabama football game will certainly draw most of the attention, their protest could receive national attention. It appears that there will be tensions on more than just the football field this Saturday in Tuscaloosa.