07 December 2019

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Tommia Dean Cheerleader Who Was Punished for Taking A Knee Wins $145,000 Settlement

Tommia Dean Cheerleader Who Was Punished for Taking A Knee Wins $145,000 Settlement


Saturday, December 7, 2019

Tommia Dean, a former Kennesaw State University cheerleader, won a $145,000 settlement after being punished for protesting during the National Anthem

She was one of the 'Kennesaw Five' cheerleaders who knelt during the anthem at the September 2017 game

They were inspired by Colin Kaepernick's similar protest of police brutality against people of color at the NFL

Tommia Dean, 21, was one of the 'Kennesaw Five' cheerleaders who knelt during the anthem at the September 2017 game at Kennesaw State University, Georgia

The college responded by banning the cheerleaders from the field during the Star-Spangled Banner for the next two games.

Now Kennesaw, has been ordered to pay the former cheerleader $145,000 after it was found to have violated her right to protest.

Under the agreement, the Georgia Department of Administrative Services agreed to write a check for $93,000 to Dean and another check for $52,000 to her attorneys before October 25, 2020.

The University System of Georgia led an investigation after the fallout and ruled that Kennesaw State administrators failed to follow the school’s own guidance that stipulates that student protests against the anthem amount to constitutionally protected free speech

Dean listed KSU’s then-President Sam Olens, senior associate athletics director Scott Whitlock and deputy athletics director Matt Griffin, as defendants in the civil suit, who have all agreed to the settlement.

Dean filed the lawsuit in 2018 after receiving public backlash for taking a knee with four other cheerleaders at the football game.

She says Kennesaw State University and state officials violated her constitutional rights following the protest.

Dean told WXIA-TV that the cheerleaders, known as the Kennesaw Five, gathered together before they took to the football field.

The Kennesaw Five's protest angered many, including Rep. Ehrhart and Sheriff Warren, who responded with public statements.

Warren said: 'My wife, Penny, had tears in her eyes, and we were both shocked to see such a lack of respect for our flag, our national anthem and the men and women that serve our nation.'

'Cobb County has lost sons and daughters at home and on foreign lands while protecting America. And to witness these ill-informed students acting this way clearly tells me KSU needs to get busy educating these students on more than just passing their classes. They need to learn all that the flag truly represents.'

Dean's attorneys wrote in the complaint filed on September 5, saying: 'Ehrhart and Warren used their power and influence to create a threatening atmosphere for any groups daring to exercise the privileges and immunities guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.'

The cheerleading squad was kept off the field for two games following the protest, but photos show that the Kennesaw Five continued to kneel out of the sight of fans.

Photo Tommia Dean -



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Tags – Free Speech Constitution Right Tommia Dean Kennesaw Five Kennesaw State University Cheerleader Wins $145,000