While athletes across the country protest the national anthem to bring attention to racial injustice, Kent State basketball went a different direction Wednesday.
Prior to their game against Mississippi Valley State, Kent State players went into the stands and invited a fan of a different race onto the court for the playing of the national anthem as a display of racial unity.
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"It was a special moment," senior guard Deon Edwin said (via ESPN.com). "We all come together as one. It wasn't about color of skin. If we can do that at a small school, everyone can do it."
Here's another look at @KentStMBB inviting fans to the floor for the National Anthem as a sign of unity and diversity pic.twitter.com/ioRPDJfRrO
— Kent State Athletics (@KentStAthletics) November 17, 2016
Edwin, who was given credit for the idea, said the team plans to do the same thing for every home game this season and hopes other schools follow suit.
"This was not my idea," Kent State coach Rob Senderoff said. "This was something they came up with and brought to me. My first reaction was, 'What a statement for them to make.' For a bunch of 18- to 22-year-olds to come up with this is incredibly mature."