The ETSU football team came together Sept. 28 to decide that preparing for the rest of the season should be put on hold until they took a stand against social injustice.

That same evening, junior and running back Quay Holmes tweeted about a Unity March being held converging outside of the ETSU Mini-Dome on Sept. 30. It was an idea brought to fruition by the team and sponsored by the ETSU athletics department.

ETSU football running back Quay Holmes speaks at Founders Park. (Photo by Allison Winters/ East Tennessean)

“I have definitely seen other sports teams like women’s basketball, they have been making videos, they have shirts made,” said Holmes. “Our volleyball team has 100% of their players registered to vote. We wanted as a team to step up to the plate and do something big.”

Students, community members and athletes alike all gathered outside in preparation for the march at 4 p.m. Participants carried handmade signs, while the main organizers passed out water bottles and Gatorade. ETSU President Brian Noland was also in attendance.

Freshman Maggie Parlier took this as her first chance to be involved in a march like this, and it made her feel better knowing that the university supported the cause.

“This was an opportunity to use my voice and be a part of something bigger than myself,” Parlier said. “It was also an opportunity to support my African American classmates and show them that we all have their back and support them no matter what.”

The marching route spanned under the ETSU bridge, parallel to West State of Franklin Road, ending at Founders Park. People were allowed to step up to the megaphone and share their own messages and stories, one of which included Men’s Track and Field Coach Hassan Stamps. It concluded with a call to action in future marches and protests and final word of prayer.

Scott Carter, the director of ETSU Athletics, expressed just how proud he was of the turnout and result of the march.

“We are supportive of their efforts; we are supportive of their hearts,” said Carter. “We are supportive of the community and the love that they want to share and spread and talk about tough conversations we need to have. I am so thankful that our administration has given them the freedom to lead and we are thankful to support them for the job they are doing and their courage.”

Football team practice resumed Oct. 1 in preparation for the spring season. Due to COVID-19 regulations, they will only be allowed to have 15 practices within the span of 34 days. The team plans to continue to show struggles the Black community faces through their Jerseys For Social Justice Video Initiative, a 12-part video series with Black student-athletes, coaches and administrators.