Kentucky sheriff, fiscal court blast Calipari, UK basketball team over anthem kneeling [View all]
The sheriff and jailer in Laurel County fumed and held a burning party for University of Kentucky basketball apparel after the mens team knelt during the national anthem Saturday to protest the treatment of Black citizens.
The Knox County Fiscal Court followed the sheriff Monday, demanding that the state reallocate tax dollars given to the university over the demonstration, according to the {Corbin} Times-Tribune.
At the state Capitol in Frankfort, Senate President Robert Stivers wept on the Senate floor Monday over how hurt he was to see the team use the national anthem to make a statement. For those with service members in their families, the players actions were hard to absorb even though they were protected by free speech, he said.
Meanwhile, university and athletic leadership expressed support for the players self-expression as they held firm Monday despite the criticism. One player said that the team wasnt surprised by the opposition.
Read more: https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article248416890.html