To Victory & Praise Christian Academy:
Kicked off the team for protesting racial injustice
Cedric Ingram-Lewis, 16, and his cousin, Larry McCullough, 18, were kicked off their football team for protesting during the national anthem Friday. Lewis raised a fist while McCullough kneeled during the national anthem.
Their coach, Ronnie Mitchem, told them to remove their uniforms right then and there and kicked them off the team. The speech suppressing actions of their coach have left Lewis and McCullough feeling humiliated. McCullough and Lewis said they knelt during the anthem to bring visibility to the oppression of Black people, and not to disrespect those in the armed forces. But for quietly demanding justice for Black people, they've been kicked off the team.
Asking for equality, no matter the forum, shouldn’t be considered divisive, and it definitely shouldn’t require disciplinary action. No coach or school official has the right to regulate or mandate what is or is not a patriotic gesture. And the Supreme Court has time and again upheld the right of students to silently protest.
Cedric Ingram-Lewis and Larry McCullough were brave to take a stand for racial justice. We need to get their backs and demand Victory & Praise Christian Academy immediately reinstate them.
Here is the Petition:
Immediately reinstate Cedric Ingram-Lewis and Larry McCullough and commit to upholding the First Amendment rights of all student-athletes.