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Late Sunday afternoon, Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel confirmed that the Tigers’ players are boycotting all football-related activities in support of a student’s racism protest.
The Tigers did not practice Sunday, in support of Jonathan Butler, an MU graduate student who began a hunger strike on Monday to protest racism on campus. Butler has said he will not eat until the university meets a list of demands, which includes the resignation or removal of school president Tim Wolf.
“Today, Sunday, there will be no football practice or formal team activities,” Pinkel said in a statement released by the school. “Our focus right now is on the health of Jonathan Butler, the concerns of our student-athletes and working with our community to address this serious issue. After meeting with the team this morning, it is clear they do not plan to return to practice until Jonathan resumes eating. We are continuing to have department, campus and student meetings as we work through this issue and will provide further comment tomorrow afternoon.”
Earlier in the day, Pinkel tweeted this photo of the Tigers, which includes the words, “The Mizzou Family stands as one.”
The Mizzou Family stands as one. We are united. We are behind our players. #ConcernedStudent1950 GP pic.twitter.com/fMHbPPTTKl
— Coach Gary Pinkel (@GaryPinkel) November 8, 2015
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey released a statement on Missouri’s protest Sunday.
Statement from SEC commissioner Greg Sankey on Missouri protest pic.twitter.com/fFIp4Q9eau
— Jon Solomon (@JonSolomonCBS) November 8, 2015
Missouri is scheduled to play BYU next Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. If it is played, the game would begin at 7:30 p.m. and be shown on the SEC Network.
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