KSU mascot takes knee in support of cheerleaders

A student who serves as Kennesaw State University's mascot could be in trouble for taking a knee during a protest while in costume.

Kenneth Sturkey, the student inside Scrappy, and others were protesting the school's decision to not allow five cheerleaders who kneeled during a football game to take the field during the national anthem.

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The cheerleaders joined a national protest over inequality and police brutality.

"People kept pulling out there phones like hey that's Scrappy. Oh my God Scrappy is with the protest," Sturkey said.

Sturkey says he saw nothing wrong with his activism.

"This is about first amendment rights. This is freedom of expression. And that's all this is. This is a

peaceful protest," he told Channel 2's Tom Jones.

Some students felt Sturkey shouldn't have used the mascot to promote his own personal cause.

"I would say he wouldn't have the right to do that because it represents the school,"

Others said it was no big deal.

"I mean if he wants to do that he can. If Kennesaw thinks something's wrong with it they act on it,"

The school may punish Sturkey for taking a knee while dressed as Scrappy.

Sturkey said that's their right but he said believes that would send the wrong message.

"If there''s a form of punishment coming from just standing out and giving the student's a voice at a peaceful protest then I feel like the problem doesn't lie with us.

Sturkey said he felt compelled to use his voice and his position to speak up for what he believed in.

Jones asked the school if he will be disciplined. A spokesperson told him she hoped to have that response by the end of the day Tuesday.

Cox Media Group