K-State football players won't play, demand action after student's George Floyd tweet

Kansas State football players won't practice, play, or meet until the university changes its policy and allows students to be dismissed after displaying any "openly racist, threatening, or disrespectful" actions toward other students, the team said in a statement on Saturday night.

The student-athletes are speaking out following a tweet from a fellow student that's sparked a wave of reaction within the school.

On Thursday - one month after George Floyd's death in police custody - student Jaden McNeil tweeted, "Congratulations to George Floyd on being drug free for an entire month!"

The football team responded Saturday after consulting students from campus organizations and from the general student body. The group feels it's best for them to "stand with the students."

"We are demanding that Kansas State University put a policy in place that allows a student to be dismissed for displaying openly racist, threatening, or disrespectful actions toward a student or groups of students," the statement read. "We have resolved that we cannot play, practice, or meet until these demands are heard and actions taken. We love Kansas State but we must stand together and protect all students moving forward."

On Friday, wide receiver and kick returner Joshua Youngblood and cornerback Tee Denson were the first Wildcats to state they won't play for the school unless McNeil is removed from campus. Youngblood later deleted his tweet.

Quarterback Skylar Thompson, defensive back Jonathan Alexander, defensive back Walter Neil Jr. and other players shared the statement on Saturday.

Kansas State president Richard Myers said Friday the "insensitive comments posted by one K-State student hurts our entire community." Gene Taylor, the school's athletic director, called the comments "disgusting."