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Thirty-six years later, school honors players' anti-racism stand

Source: AP (10-21-06)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- In 1970, nine black Syracuse University football players became rebellious outcasts when they quit the team to protest racial injustice.

Now, 36 years later, the university is officially recognizing them for their courageous stand.

On Friday, they received Chancellor's Medals, one of the university's highest honors. Chancellor Nancy Cantor called the men "emblematic of the values we want for our students and for ourselves when we face critical issues of justice and equality."

On Saturday, former National Football League star Art Monk, a 1980 Syracuse alumnus, gave them their long-denied letterman jackets at a halftime ceremony during the Syracuse-Louisville football game.

Posted on Monday, October 23, 2006 at 8:43 PM | Comments (0) | Return

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