Group plans solidarity march for ETSU men’s basketball as kneeling controversy feels ire of Tennessee senators

A group has come out in support of the East Tennessee State University men’s basketball team and their National Anthem protest.

A message published and shared on social media by the New Panthers Initiative said a peaceful march to signify solidarity with the team is planned for Wednesday afternoon at 5:30 near the ETSU parking garage off West State of Franklin Road.

The team has drawn regional criticism as well as from alumni, school president Brian Noland, and state lawmakers in Nashville for kneeling during the anthem prior to a contest in Chattanooga last week.

Bristol’s Jon Lundberg and Johnson City’s Rusty Crowe were among 27 senators who signed and sent a letter to all state-funded universities telling school leaders to adopt new guidelines that would punish students for such public displays during the anthem.

pic.twitter.com/jAib29QypP— Sen. Paul Bailey (@PaulBaileyforTN) February 23, 2021

(IMAGE: ETSU Athletics)