America Needs Equality

News & Updates

3/6/23 Iowa Hawkkkeyes Proven Guilty - Settle Racism Lawsuit

A $4.175 million settlement agreement has been reached in the lawsuit filed by a group of Black former University of Iowa football players who claimed head coach Kirk Ferentz oversaw a racially discriminatory culture.

Unfortunately, Iowa taxpayers will be responsible for paying a portion of the settlement for the racist behaviors of Iowa Hawkkkeye coaches - including but not limited to the Ferentz clan.

The key settlement details are as follows:

The state of Iowa was on the hook to pay $2 million to the plaintiffs, with the Iowa athletics department being responsible for the remaining $2.175 million.
About 45.5% of the settlement will go toward attorney's fees of $1,878,750. Another $35,837.41 will go toward unspecified costs. The firm of Tulsa-based civil rights attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons, who was lead counsel for the former players, will be paid the full settlement amount.

Twelve former players signed the settlement agreement Feb. 23:

Akrum Wadley (2013 to '17)
Jonathan Parker (2013-16)
Marcel Joly (2014-17)
Aaron Mends (2014-18)
Maurice Fleming (2012-15)
Reggie Spearman (2013)
Kevonte Martin-Manley (2010-14)
Darian Cooper (2011-16)
Laron Taylor (2012-14)
Brandon Simon (2016-19)
Javon Foy (2019-20)
Terrence Harris (2014-16)

Des Moines Register Story

7/30: "Review" Finds Racial Bias - kkKirk Whitewashes it

The "review" is in, and like the others, it finds clear racial bias in the Iowa Football program.... however;

Despite over 60 black players having made credible, public statements about racial bias and punishment, only 18 former black players were interviewed for the "review". Are you fucking kidding me? The report is a complete whitewash for Captain kkKirk.

Hush Blackpeople (aka Husch Blackwell) is one of the least racially diverse law firms in the entire midwest and full of Hawkeye graduates. Iowa rushes them to do a "complete" and "thorough" review in less than a month and we know why - they didn't want the victims to be heard.

Look at prior updates for how little to expect to be done about this.

Fire kkKirk! (Read Report)

7/20: kkKirk's Football Culture - The Damn Breaks

'18 Athletic Department Study Showed Serious Racial Bias in Iowa Football - Link

Despite all of Kirk Ferentz and Gary Barta's protests (aka lies) about not knowing of "a single" instance of prior complaints of racism within Iowa Football, a new report of the 2018 Iowa AD study shows a very different, and damning, story. If you recall, this is the same study that AD Gary Barta says they didn't take action on.

A few key findings from the school's own report in 2018;

Black players were...
1. Expected to conform to White culture.
2. Subjected to verbal harassment.
3. Targeted for extra drug testing.
4. Misled about resources available to them during the recruiting process.
5. Subjected to inequitable discipline policies and double standards.
6. Misunderstood by both coaches and White player.
7. Unsupported in their academic pursuits.
Kirk Ferentz's big takeaway from the report;
1. Ferentz read the full report detailing racial inequities in 2019. Based on that, he initiated some changes before last season. “We allowed (student-athletes) to wear hats, earrings, [and hoodies]...".
On June 7, 2020, Ferentz said...
1. That he didn’t recall learning of anything that alarmed him or alerted him to inappropriate treatment of student-athletes in his program prior to Daniels and others speaking out publicly last month.
And the big tell from Ferentz;
1. “I think you could argue that (the Iowa Football culture) has been healthy based on results,” the coach said last month.
The saddest result;
1. A study done by USC’s Race and Equity Center shows that among 65 Power 5 football programs, Iowa ranked 60th in graduating black student-athletes. In the Big Ten, its 37 percent differential between graduating black and white student-athletes ranked as the highest in the conference.

Iowa Football diehard Jon Miller on the latest development...

"For [those] wondering 'why didn't the former players go to Kirk directly and privately, and instead sharing their stories publicly?' This is why. It appears the things they shared publicly, they HAD shared privately, and very little had changed. So the program has itself to blame."

Fast forward to the new review that Barta insists will be taken seriously...

By Gary Barta's own schedule, we are nearing the latter stages of the self-funded, expedited "review" of the Iowa Football Program by one of the whitest law firms in the midwest. Kirk Ferentz suggested last week he believes this review is nearing the end... interesting he would know that about an "independent" investigation.

At this point, we've not had any confirmations from victims that they have been interviewed by the "investigators". There could certainly be many that have been interviewed (there are over 50 publicly acknowledged victims), but none that have been confirmed.

An investigation seemingly nearing conclusion without interviewing key victims? After Barta himself acknowledged they didn't take the prior, damning, investigation seriously? Hmm, that would be a bold strategy, Cotton.

At least we have comfort knowing the Des Moines Register will do a full expose on this huge in-state story. Well, actually, the same reporters that spent months dedicated to researching a bogus claim of Iowa band members being assaulted haven't done a single investigative piece on this. Another bold strategy, Cotton.

6/29: Akrum Wadley - 5th all-time leading rusher

Full text of damning description of systemic racism at UofI; https://pastebin.com/Eh0CyRty

Key Excerpts:

"I felt like playing for Iowa Football was a living nightmare. I never drank alcohol prior to going to college but based on my experience there it became the only thing I could rely on it seems and was what I did to cope. Game day was the only day that it was somewhat of a relief for me, but that even became difficult based on what happened during the week leading up to it. "

"It was clear to myself and other black teammates we were targeted to the extreme regarding not making Iowa's required weight. Trying to gain and maintain that weight in a workout after drinking pounds of Powerade and/or shakes right before working out. This made me very sick daily which included vomiting and my body aching. This was happening once a week but then went to happening everyday. I remember those that were in my group which were all Black transferred. As this was happening as I was trying my best to deal with this to help my teammates. I was threatened by Kirk Ferentz that my meal card would be taken away and I will not eat nor be able to sit with my teammates during eating sessions. He did follow through on his threat. I went to use my meal card and it was declined. I had to call my mother from New Jersey at 10 or 11pm at night because I was hungry to order Dominos Pizza for me."

Coach Brian Ferentz says, “Hey Akrum, are you going to rob a gas station?"... "Akrum are you going to rob a liquor store?"

Brian then yelled to me, “You dumb Mother Fucker, who the fuck do you think you are!”

"I was sitting in a group meeting and it turned to the topic of my teammate Reggie Spearman who was coming off a bad knee Injury but was still trying to practice through it. Brian Ferentz was telling our Oline that he can't stand him and he wishes someone would hurt him, he hates him and he wishes he wasn't here."

A reporter said to Kirk Ferentz “Coach it’s a good thing you are going to New York because your star player Akrum Wadley who’s from New Jersey can show you guys around.” KirK Ferentz responded to him “That’s the worst thing about it!”.

"Kirk Ferentz made a way of not letting the athletes speak their mind about anything other than what and when he wanted us to speak."

"Kirk Ferentz didn't address any of the issues that I am writing this statement about today."

New Links and quotes of interest

Marc Morehouse, CR Gazette - UofI Sports Writer
- "This culture has always been borderline bully, fully military and aggressive against black culture."
Robert T Green
- "#BrianFerentz began yelling and screaming at me, kicked the garbage can and said to me in front of all the coaches "only a dumb ass Black player would do it like that."
Bomani Jones
- "I'm stunned that Kirk Ferentz still has a job."
- “gundy and ferentz deserve more scrutiny. if they don’t get it, this supposed awakening on race is just america rolling over in bed.”
Robert T Green - Representing Victims of UofI Racism
- "No victim in history has ever been healed by the perpetrator who did the damage. #KirkFerentz Don't talk to us "individuals" about #exploitation. Us individuals don't need to seek your permission to speak their truth. You kept the #Team silent for 21 years."
- #ChrisDoyle was only doing what #KirkFerentz allowed and supported him doing.
- The review that #Iowa is doing is also not enough or validated. The athletes and parents names that we released has not been contacted by this firm.
Matt Cozzi
- Iowa allowed Kirk Ferentz to answer only FIVE questions within a week of possibly the biggest story in program history. Why even have the press conference? Embarrassing.

6/16/2020 - Husch Blackwell - Law Firm

The new law firm hired to "investigate" the Iowa Athletic Program, Husch Blackwell, is one of the midwest's least racially diverse law firms according to the renowned Vault Survey.
In the 2018 survey, Husch Blackwell had 166 white Equity Partners and only 1 black Equity Partner.
They had 209 white Associates to only 13 black Associates.
Out of 27 Summer Associates, only 2 were black.
The hiring committee consists of 70 whites and 3 blacks.
There are at least 10 U of I grads in the KC office (7 are partners, all are white).
Meanwhile, Kansas City has a healthy black population of over 30% to 54% white.
Iowa has announced they will be paying up to $675 per hours, so a rush job is expected.
Considering Gary Barta admitted the University failed to sufficiently act from the 2019 negative discrimination report, and they've hired one of the whitest firms in the midwest, nobody should expect much to result from their "findings".

6/15/2020 - Gary Barta, Athletic Director

On the same day that the University of Iowa awards Chris Doyle $1.1 million (plus healthcare) for being an accused racist...
Gary Barta acknowledges the University knew of racial disparities in 2019 based on a task force report, but failed to take sufficient action. But, he promises the task force will be heard this time.
Barta goes on to give full confidence to Kirk Ferentz, the person responsible for everything that has gone on at Iowa for 20 years.

6/12/2020 - Kirk Ferentz, Head Coach

Reporter: "Did you apologize to your former players?"

Ferentz: "I don't know that I apologized and I think they know how I feel"... "I haven't really paid attention to the accusations"

Make them hear your voice

Keith Murphy - WHO

Des Moines Register

Request that WHO and SoundOff start covering this critical story.

Email: soundoff@who13.com

Live Call-In: (800) 835-1313

Voicemail: (515) 245-8844

Des Moines Register

Ambassadors and state-run media organization for Hawkeye Athletics.

Phone: (877) 424-0225

KXNO Sports Radio

Des Moines Register

KXNO Sports Radio

Call in and demand they start covering this important story.

Phone: (515) 284-5966

A new day is coming...

Make them hear your voice!

America Needs Equality, and it needs to start with us.

The time has come to change the old guard of racists and/or racial prejudice hiding in the corners of society. Use the power of your voice and your pocketbook to make change happen.

From potentially racist positional coaches like Chris Doyle and Brian Ferentz to those that control entire programs like Kirk Ferentz at U of Iowa, it's time for change.

When a major University can control the flow of negative news about racial disparities in it's football program, all hope for reform is lost without a top-to-bottom changing of the guard.

Call the Des Moines Register (877-424-0225) and demand they fairly and accurately cover the scandal flowing through Kinnick Stadium and staining our great state.
Demand they stop covering for the Hawkeyes once and for all.
Post your messages of unity and courage to those brave players that have come forward to share their stories.
Cancel your season tickets until you see real change, not just a smoke screen or new slogan or decal on a helmet.
Call KXNO (515-284-5966) and demand they start covering this story.
Call Hawkeye Nation (Joe Chmelka at 515-770-7535) for suppressing the deeply emotional stories and messages from the victims of racial prejudice at the University of Iowa.
Contact Keith Murphy at WHO and request he start covering this critical story for our state. Email: soundoff@who13.com Live Call-In: (800) 835-1313 or Voicemail: (515) 245-8844.

It's not too late, make them hear your voice!