Upset that University of Arkansas officials support six women basketball players who knelt during the national anthem last week, several Republican lawmakers have threatened to disrupt funding for the state's largest university.
Following the lead of other collegiate and professional athletes nationwide who have refused to stand during the anthem, the women told reporters after Thursday's home exhibition win over Oklahoma Baptist University that they had chosen to protest police killings of blacks and other minority-group members.
Women's basketball coach Jimmy Dykes said he had spoken with players about their plans ahead of time, and was joined by Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long and Chancellor Joseph Steinmetz in offering support for their right to express their feelings.