Ever since Colin Kaepernick decided to protest during national anthem to take a stand for racial injustice and inequality in the United States, social issues have become more intertwined with the the world of sports.
Now, Wisconsin Badgers guard Bronson Koenig is set to become the latest athlete to use his platform for a social cause that gives a voice to those who want to be heard.
For Koenig, a proud Native American athlete whose mother is a full-blooded member of the Ho-Chunk tribe, that means joining the Dakota Pipeline Protest and standing with the Standing Rock Sioux who are watching their sacred land being torn through for oil pipelines.
Koenig told Yahoo! Sports he will be heading to Cannonball, North Dakota to join the protest this weekend.
“I hope to bring awareness to the cause and give everyone there a little bit of joy and a little bit of hope,” Koenig said. “I want to take time out of my schedule to pray with them and protest with them and show them that I’m right alongside them. They’ve always had my back whether I have an awful game or a great game, and this is my way of repaying the favor.”
While at the protest, Koenig will also host a free basketball camp for youth in the area at Standing Rock Middle School in Fort Yates from 2-5 p.m.
This is an incredible gesture from Koenig and it is great to see athletes continuing to come forward to help their communities and those who look up to them because of their platform. Let’s hope this is only the beginning of athletes standing for positive change.
Can’t get enough of Campus Sports? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with the latest news and exclusive giveaways!
Photo Credit: Bronson Koenig, Instagram
