Howard Women’s Basketball Stays In Locker Room for Anthem

The Howard University women’s basketball team is standing firm on its commitment to social justice, even as pregame protocols evolve. For the past six seasons, these athletes have chosen to kneel during the national anthem, a powerful act mirroring Colin Kaepernick’s protest against police brutality. Now, facing a new university policy, the team has decided to continue their protest by remaining in the locker room during the anthem.

A New Policy, A Familiar Stance

Following a game against the U.S. Army in December, Howard’s athletic department implemented a new protocol. According to The Hilltop, the university’s newspaper, the updated rule requires players to either stand for the national anthem or stay in the locker room. The women’s basketball team has overwhelmingly opted for the latter, choosing to stay out of sight during the song, regardless of whether they are playing at home or away.

Vice President of Athletics, Kery Davis, stated that the new approach aims to show “mutual respect” for all communities while still supporting students’ freedom of expression. “There have been thoughtful internal conversations between athletics leadership, coaches and student-athletes regarding pregame protocols,” Davis revealed. “The current approach is about supporting our students’ freedom of expression while upholding mutual respect for all communities.”

Activism Rooted in HBCU Tradition

Associate head coach Brian Davis explained the team’s decision: “We don’t want to bring any bad light to Howard University, so we just decided to stay in the locker room now for every game, home and away, and we will continue to do that throughout the rest of the season.” For the players, this choice is not about disrespecting the anthem but about staying true to their values of justice and upholding Howard’s motto of truth and service.

As an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) located in the nation’s capital, Howard University has a rich legacy of activism and civil disobedience. The team’s decision reflects this history, continuing a tradition of using their platform to call for change, both within the university and on a national scale.

However, the new policy has sparked debate among other student-athletes, who question whether it infringes upon their freedoms. “If they can take away our right to protest, what else can they take away?” inquired Howard soccer player Ireal Wyze-Daly. “I would never believe that coming to Howard, the biggest HBCU in the world, The Mecca, would basically be forced to bow down to the white oppressive system.” As the women’s basketball team prepares for the upcoming season under these new provisions, their choice to remain in the locker room highlights the ongoing tension between institutional policies and student activism.