Oklahoma football team marches for social and racial justice, won’t practice

Oklahoma Sooners walk out on practice and march for justice. 

As the college football season is slated to kickoff on Sept. 12 for the Big 12 many teams would normally be all in on practicing and blocking out all non-football related distractions. But the death of Jacob Blake at the hands of Wisconsin police has drastically changed that plan.

Across the United States, many sports teams have conducted some form of protest or boycott in response.

The NBA, NHL, and MLB have all postponed games over the past few days. And many football teams, both college and professional, who are currently preparing for their season, have walked out of practice.

And it continued today with the Oklahoma Sooners football squad.

The march was led by head coach Lincoln Riley

The march started with the team linking arms and then walking from the practice field to the South Oval on Oklahoma’s campus.

Head coach Lincoln Riley then addressed the media where he said that his team is motivated to do their part for justice. He then went onto talk about the conversations that have been happening in the program which have also been genuine and unfiltered.

He went onto express his appreciation for the diversity on his team and within his program. And he then ended with a message of unity saying he knows that it is very possible to achieve because he sees it on his squad.

The Sooners then marched back to the practice field linked together as a team.

And the program also took direct action during this march by registering all of its players to vote. 

It is always easy for programs to make social media statements or take symbolic action in regards to equality. But it is encouraging to see the Sooners take direct action to make a difference.