Belmont University has expelled a student for calling Philadelphia Eagles’ players “piece of s*** n*****s” and saying that the players needed “a damn bullet in their head” after raising their fists during the national anthem on Snapchat. “If you don’t like this country get the hell out,” the post read, according to The Tennessean. Football players around the country have been kneeling or raising their fists during the anthem as a protest against racism and police brutality.
The student’s post went viral on Tuesday after students shared the post in outrage.
The university issued a statement on Twitter Tuesday afternoon saying that the post came from a freshman student and that they would take “immediate action.”
After an investigation, the university said in another statement that “the [student] involved is no longer a student at Belmont.”
UPDATE: After investigating the racist social media post, the person involved is no longer a student at Belmont. pic.twitter.com/BA4hNAUbPC
— Belmont University (@BelmontUniv) September 20, 2016
“The University rejects comments rooted in racism or bigotry. As a Christian institution, it is our goal to build a diverse and inclusive community where all members feel accepted, safe and valued,” the university stated.
Belmont University student Isaiah Edwards, told The Tennessean, “Being on such a beautiful campus, that supports diversity and inclusion, it is terrifying having someone speak about shooting individuals in the head and referring to them as n*****s. I hope that Belmont uses this experience as a wake-up call that this type of disgusting behavior is real and prevalent on its campus.”