By The Associated Press
TUSCALOOSA — Alabama coach Nick Saban led dozens of his football players and other athletes on a march for social justice.
The group marched the short distance Monday on the school’s campus from the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility to Foster Auditorium.
The Crimson Tide athletes, coaches and staff joined a series of organized events among football players and other college athletics across the country.
Such gatherings or marches have been held at schools like Oklahoma, Kansas, Duke, Baylor, Mississippi and Mississippi State with others planned.
“For certain, we can’t let this momentum die,” tailback Najee Harris said. “This has to be an ongoing movement until change happens.
“We must do more as a team and as individuals to keep this movement going.”
Harris walked near Saban with a T-shirt reading “Defend Black Lives.” Other players held signs with messages like “Black Lives Matter” and “Stand for something or fall for anything.”
“This is what helped me grow in my role as a leader, to listen to the players, to learn from the players and give them opportunities to do things that could impact social change today,” Saban said. “Today I’m like a proud parent.
“I’m proud of our messengers over here and I’m very proud of the message.”
Players Chris Owens and Jarez Parks also spoke, along with athletic director Greg Byrne, university President Stuart R. Bell and university Police Chief John Hooks.
“Equality, that’s all we want,” said Owens, Alabama’s center.