Lenoir-Rhyne students and some faculty marched from Hickory City Hall to the university in protest of racism on Thursday. The demonstration comes less than a week after former Lenoir-Rhyne basketball player Laney Fox published an open letter saying she was cut from the team for speaking up on racial justice. Fox said other players who spoke up on social justice issues, including most of the Black players had either been cut or transferred as a result of the environment on the team. Nakia Hooks, a Black basketball player who is transferring, said athletes were told they would have their scholarships substantially reduced or that they would not be brought back.