A group of black University of Missouri football players said on Saturday they will "no longer participate in football-related activities until President Tim Wolfe resigns," following a series of racist incidents on campus.
It's unclear how many of the black student-athletes have agreed to strike, though they seem to have the support of Head Coach Gary Pinkel and many non-black players.
The Mizzou Family stands as one. We are united. We are behind our players. #ConcernedStudent1950 GP pic.twitter.com/fMHbPPTTKl— Coach Gary Pinkel (@GaryPinkel) November 8, 2015
The football players announced their strike through the Legion of Black Collegians, a university student group that voices the opinion of black students.
We are no longer taking it. It's time to fight. #ConcernedStudent1950 #MizzouHungerStrike pic.twitter.com/mnPZBviqJF— LBC (@MizzouLBC) November 8, 2015
While we strive to be the leading voice for all black students, the players did not make their decision on behalf of anyone but themselves.— LBC (@MizzouLBC) November 8, 2015
Their demand comes after a series of racist incidents on campus this year that many students feel university President Tim Wolfe has not taken seriously.
A Columbia Missourian timeline of the incidents starts on Sept. 12, when Missouri Student Association Payton Head spoke out about being called "the N-word" by a man driving around in a pick-up truck on campus.
A similar incident followed, after which university Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced diversity training for faculty, staff and students.
But it wasn't enough for many campus activists. Members of the activists group Concerned Student 1950 -- a reference to when the first year black students were admitted on campus -- protested racism at the school by blocking Wolfe's car during a homecoming celebration in October. Wolfe didn't meet with them, and the group demanded his resignation.
Activists presented Wolfe with several demands in meetings after the protest, such as an increase in the percentage of black faculty, though they said Wolfe did not acquiesce to anything they requested.
Then pressure on Wolfe ratcheted up significantly on Nov. 2, when a graduate student named Jonathan Butler announced he would go on hunger strike until Wolfe resigned.
Wolfe apologized for his "reaction" toward members of Concerned Student 1950 when they blocked his car. He said he had met with Butler and is "concerned" for Butler's health. Wolfe also acknowledged racism on campus.
"Racism does exist at our university and it is unacceptable," Wolfe said in the statement. "It is a long-standing, systemic problem which daily affects our family of students, faculty and staff. I am sorry this is the case. I truly want all members of our university community to feel included, valued and safe."
Missouri Athletics Director Mack Rhoades and head football coach Gary Pinkel issued a joint statement saying the team has no plans to practice in the immediate future.
"Our focus right now is on the health of Jonathan Butler, the concerns of our student-athletes and working with our community to address this serious issue," they wrote. "After meeting with the team this morning, it is clear they do not plan to return to practice until Jonathan resumes eating."
Wolfe issued a statement on Sunday that didn't address the football team's strike.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon also released a statement regarding the protests at the university, but didn't mention the football team either.
“Racism and intolerance have no place at the University of Missouri or anywhere in our state,” Nixon said.