Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah took to Twitter to express support former Nebraska teammate Michael Rose-Ivey, who said he received racist responses following his decision to kneel with two other UN players during the national anthem on Saturday.
Rose-Ivey and two current teammates, Mohamed Barry and DaiShon Neal, kneeled during the playing of the national anthem preceding the Cornhuskers' 24-13 road win at Northwestern on Saturday. Rose-Ivey said he, Barry and Neal did so in support of San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, who began refusing to stand during the national anthem in the preseason to raise awareness of racial injustice in the U.S. Rose-Ivey said he received racial slurs via social media from fans and others, along with suggestions that he, Barry and Neal should be killed.
"Some believed DaiShon, Mohamed and myself should be kicked off the team or suspended, while some said we deserved to be lynched or shot just like the other black people that have died recently," Rose-Ivey said. "Another believed that since we didn't want to stand for the anthem, we should be hung before the anthem for the next game."
Social media wasn't the only vehicle for criticism of the three Cornhuskers. Nebraska Board of Regents member Hal Daub, a former mayor of Omaha and a war veteran, called the action "offensive", and suggested they be dismissed from the team, according to the Lincoln Star-Journal. Governor Pete Ricketts was critical as well, according to the report. Ricketts and Rose-Ivey, however, agreed via social media to meet and discuss their views on the matter.
A full transcript of Rose-Ivey's remarks was published by the Omaha World-Herald. Barry also spoke on Monday and said the feedback he received was largely positive.
"Like 15 positives to the negative," Barry said, according to the World-Herald. "Our fans, they agree with it, they see the injustice, and for the most part they support us."
Abdullah and Rose-Ivey were Nebraska teammates for three seasons from 2012 to 2014.
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