During his weekly meeting with the media, UNC head coach Roy Williams was asked about his thoughts on the Confederate monument known as Silent Sam.
“In my own personal belief,” Williams said. “I think it would be best if it was not here.”
The statue was pulled down by protesters in August, but a recent proposal from the UNC Board of Trustees for the disposition and preservation of the monument calls for Silent Sam to be housed in a new $5.3 million facility on UNC’s campus. The UNC System Board of Governors has since rejected that proposal.
This decision by the board has been met with criticism from UNC professors, students and alumni. Hundreds of individuals have signed letters of protest calling for Silent Sam to be removed from campus.
Among some of these individuals were current student-athletes at North Carolina, a handful of which are current members of the men’s basketball team.
However, Williams said that he has no problem with his players getting involved with an issue they feel concerned about.
“If they feel that way,” Williams said. “I have zero problems. I am glad they are expressing themselves.”
#UNC's Roy Williams on his current players signing the Silent Sam open letter protest: "I am not bothered by it all…their individual rights. It's a touchy issue. Its a hard issue."
— Ross Martin (@RossMartin_IC) December 14, 2018
Among the student-athletes to sign the online letter were current basketball players Garrison Brooks, Kenny Smith Jr., Brandon Robinson and Sterling Manley.
Featured image via Todd Melet/Chapelboro.com
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