Florida A&M University's Marching 100 band is set to take the field Saturday for the first time at the Florida Classic since drum major Robert Champion's hazing death.
Hours before kickoff, the Florida Civil Rights Association issued a statement, saying the band is heading in the right direction.
FAMU and the new leadership of the Marching 100 is heading in the right direction to end hazing, bullying and discriminatory harassment in higher education, said J. Willie David, III, president of the Florida Civil Rights Association.
The Florida Civil Rights Association is pleased that FAMU Marching 100 has returned to Orlando with a strong passion and desire to dispel hazing myths and practices of the marching band, David said. They have set the tone for other marching bands across the nation that there must be zero tolerance for hazing and bullying in our education system, David added.
I’m truly excited that FAMU Marching 100 has returned to the fields, however, the Florida Civil Rights Association will not forget the tragic death of Drum Major Robert Champion and his parents suffering of the loss of their son, David said.
The Florida Civil Rights Association believes the past suspension of FAMU Marching 100 program continues to send the right message to all Colleges and Universities that at least one institution is aggressively moving in the right direction to protect the lives of its students, stated David.