1.
On the same day President Barack Obama spoke in Selma, Ala. to celebrate the 50th anniversary of voting rights, a frat from the University of Oklahoma was getting busy with some good ol' racism. On Sunday night, video emerged showing the university's SAE fraternity singing a racist song about how proud they were of their frat's collective racism. SAE were on their way to a black-tie event, and to raise the celebrations to the next level, they began singing this on the bus:
“There will never be a n***er SAE.
There will never be a n***er SAE.
You can hang ‘em from a tree,
But they’ll never [inaudible] with me.
There will never be a n***er SAE.”
Disgusting. Since the video went viral, Oklahoma has cut ties with SAE, but some students on campus are calling for more, including the football team and its head coach. Their outrage has been lead by linebacker Eric Striker, who posted NSFW commentary on SAE's video to Snapchat. His emotional message was loud and clear: "Fuck all you bitches."
Eric Striker (OU RB) reacts to the OU SAE video https://t.co/gbpTJdmAXv
— Jesse Castle (@Cheesus85) March 9, 2015
Striker's anger was echoed by his peers. This morning, many Oklahoma students began having rallies around campus to denounce SAE and kickstart the conversation. Following suit, Stoops, his team, and other Oklahoma athletics personnel were recently spotted at a demonstration on campus. At one of the rallies, a calm and collected, but still visibly incensed, Striker briefly took questions from a group of assembled press with his teammates backing him. Striker called the racist video a product of an "institutional breakdown when it comes to minority relations," and off-handedly referred to campus problems concerning student athletes and race that may be contributing to a larger racial issue within the university's student body.
I speak with @UofOklahoma football player #EricStriker about why he & his teammates decided to take a stand. @OKCFOX pic.twitter.com/O8qiEzkRjZ
— Danielle Dunn (@DanielleDunnOKC) March 9, 2015
Bob Stoops stands with his players at OU South Oval demonstration. #Sooners pic.twitter.com/QS7Al3wt6Q
— Guerin Emig (@GuerinEmig) March 9, 2015
Circle of OU athletes, coaches just outside Owen Field, led in prayer by #Sooners center Ty Darlington. pic.twitter.com/nR1BdEIcsg
— Guerin Emig (@GuerinEmig) March 9, 2015
Students gather on Univ. of Oklahoma campus to protest over #SAE fraternity's racist chant. Pic: @tkwoodward @OUDaily pic.twitter.com/yDVSRpPIZT
— AJ+ (@ajplus) March 9, 2015
Stoops later caught up with Guerin Emig of the Tulsa World for his response to the video.
Bob Stoops: "It’s hard to believe that that actually happened. It’s sad the ignorance that can still be there with some people." #Sooners
— Guerin Emig (@GuerinEmig) March 9, 2015
Bob Stoops continued: "It's just appalling. I was here to be with my guys. We all work with beautiful young men." #Sooners
— Guerin Emig (@GuerinEmig) March 9, 2015
Bob Stoops on reaction to the video: "It’s just... y’know... very little gets me choked up. But that hurt." #Sooners
— Guerin Emig (@GuerinEmig) March 9, 2015
UPDATE: Jean Delance, a four star offensive line commitment to Oklahoma, has now decommitted.
#Scout150 OL @JeanDelance74 was clearly disturbed by the racist frat video from #OU last night, no longer committed to #Sooners
— Bob Przybylo (@BPrzybylo) March 9, 2015
He made his announcement through this note on Twitter.
— Jean Delance (@JeanDelance74) March 9, 2015
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[via Uproxx]