On February 14, UC Davis junior Alexis Brown captured the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Gymnast of the Week honors for the second time in 2017 and the third time in her career, but she has received recent attention for her taking a knee during the national anthem prior to meets as a symbolic protest of the anthem’s connection to the systemic issue of police brutality against black and brown bodies.
ASUCD Office of Advocacy and Student Representation has written the following letter in support of Ms. Brown:
The ASUCD Office of Advocacy and Student Representation is in solidarity with UC Davis Women’s Gymnast, Alexis Brown, who recently began taking a knee during the national anthem prior to meets as a symbolic protest of the anthem’s connection to the systemic issue of police brutality against black and brown bodies.
Alexis is a Black gymnast who has won multiple accolades and awards, including, but not limited to, MPSF champion on uneven bars, first Aggie to earn at-large event berths in multiple events, and the only Aggie to podium at all three MPSF events.
Her awards should speak for themselves, but instead, her actions of protest have been met with disapproval from her coaches and teammates alike, and harassment from fans.
At a recent meet, in which she noted that she performed the “best vault of her life,” she received uncharacteristically low scores for what she believes to be discrimination due to her kneeling during the national anthem.
Alexis’ limited support has taken a toll on her morale and more importantly, disheartened her as a member of the UC Davis population that is only comprised of 3% African Americans.
Moreover, Alexis and other marginalized student athletes deserve better from the athletic department. No student athlete should be feel penalized or isolated for their beliefs.
We, the members of OASR, want to reiterate our support for Alexis and students in similar positions, and urge all others, including ASUCD Senate, to reaffirm their support and solidarity as well.
The members of the Office of Advocacy and Student Representation will be attending Alexis’ upcoming gym meets to support her, alongside members of the African Diaspora community. We highly encourage other allies to come out in support as well.
The next meets at the UC Davis Pavilion are as follows:
February 17th 7:00pm
February 19th 1:00pm
February 24th 7:00pm
March 10th 7:00pm
Best,
ASUCD Office of Advocacy and Student Representation
Georgia Savage, Director, Office of Advocacy and Student Representation
Sarah Shemery, Deputy Director, Office of Advocacy and Student Representation
Maya Sadler, Black Family Weeks/Day Co-Coordinator, Cross Cultural Center
Samantha Chiang, ASUCD Senator
Ricardo Martinez, ASUCD Senator
Julienne Correa, Ethnic and Cultural Affairs Commission Chairperson
Sara Williams, External Affairs Commission Chairperson
Like her others have the right to exercise their free speech too.
And if their message was need to silence those critics rather than we need to support her, then you might have a point.
Alexis,
You may never read this, but you have my complete support. What I would tell you if you were one of my children is that you will be hurt by the negative comments of those who should be supporting your athletic abilities rather than criticizing your genuinely held beliefs. However, this pain is transient. It will pass. And it cannot compare to the pain that you will experience if you do not adhere to your own firmly held convictions. Stand proud for your beliefs and know that there will always be those who admire you and will stand with you.
Heck, perhaps she was just stretching to avoid a leg cramp… too much ‘drama’ in this piece… not sure if it was “personal” (my presumption, and have no problem at all with that), or meant to be ‘inflammatory political speech’ (since the meet was probably not broadcast on National TV. Too much is being made of this.
As the Beatles sung, “let it be”.
“Alexis Brown, who recently began taking a knee during the national anthem prior to meets as a symbolic protest of the anthem’s connection to the systemic issue of police brutality against black and brown bodies.”
I believe it was intentional
Howard
When I was in high school, about the time that I discovered that I did not believe in the origin story behind my Methodist upbringing, while fully adhering to the beliefs about all men being my brother and my mission to do as much good, for as many as I could,for as long as I could, I stopped saying the phrase “under God” when reciting the pledge. Around the same time, I stopped singing the national anthem or placing my hand over my heart, but merely stood while others did so. Pretty radical acts in my town in the 60’s. This also did not appear on national television. The acts were genuine public statements of my own convictions and were not meant to be “inflammatory”. Is it not possible that this young woman is merely doing the same ? Are the thousands of people who do chose to say the pledge and sing the anthem making “inflammatory statements” or merely expressing their right to demonstrate allegiance in a majority accepted fashion ? Do you believe it is only “inflammatory political speech” when it is the expression of a minority belief ?
What I said was, “not sure if it was “personal” (my presumption, and have no problem at all with that)“. Then allowed as how my presumption might be wrong. Period.