Coach Roberts Says Utah Women’s Basketball Is Motivated ‘To Be Agents Of Change’

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah women’s basketball head coach Lynne Roberts said that her team “is a tight-knit family” and is “united and motivated to be agents of change” amid the national movement surrounding the death of George Floyd.

Floyd died in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25 after a police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.

“During these heartbreaking times in America, my staff and I stand with all of our student-athletes and the challenges they will face as young people in this world,” Robert said in a statement. “We will continue to listen to, seek to understand, and stand in solidarity with one another despite any differences between us and the oppression that exists beyond sport.”

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— lynne roberts (@UtesCoachRob) May 30, 2020

Other Utah Athletic Programs

A day earlier, the University’s Twitter account for its football team echoed a similar sentiment as Coach Roberts and quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“Utah Football is a family. One with members from different backgrounds, ethnicities &vwalks of life. We stand with & support all our student-athletes, especially during this time, and we’re proud of our diversity.”

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – MLK

Utah Football is a family. One with members from different backgrounds, ethnicities & walks of life. We stand with & support all our student-athletes, especially during this time, and we’re proud of our diversity.

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) May 30, 2020

Utah women’s volleyball, like Utah women’s basketball, said they were “united together” and grateful to embrace diversity.

“We are heartbroken at the events taking place around the country. The Utah VB Program has always been inclusive & is united together as a team & family,” the team posted on Twitter. “We are grateful for the Utah Athletics family that embraces diversity & we stand with & support all of our student-athletes.”

We are heartbroken at the events taking place around the country. The Utah VB Program has always been inclusive & is united together as a team & family. We are grateful for the @utahathletics family that embraces diversity & we stand with & support all of our student-athletes ❤️

— Utah Volleyball (@UtahVolleyball) May 31, 2020

Utah athletic director Mark Harlan added his thoughts to the current situation as well.

“SLC is not immune to the hopelessness & fear of the underrepresented communities. As a leader, I need to do more, every day, to be more aware & act on their behalf,” Harlan tweeted on May 30. “I strongly urge all to protest peacefully & avoid the violence we are seeing. Causing more pain is not the path.”

SLC is not immune to the hopelessness & fear of the underrepresented communities. As a leader,I need to do more, everyday, to be more aware & act on their behalf.I strongly urge all to protest peacefully & avoid the violence we are seeing. Causing more pain is not the path-

— Mark Harlan (@MarkHarlan_AD) May 31, 2020

As part of the national rallies, protesters gathered, only minutes away from the University of Utah, in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 30.

During the late afternoon, protests in Salt Lake City turned violent and multiple vehicles were lit on fire including a police vehicle.