Gyree Durante, the college football player cut for kneeling, has been offered reinstatement to the team but is turning it down.
Albright College in Pennsylvania offered reinstatement to Durante, along with two other players that knelt during the National Anthem, reports ESPN. In a statement posted on the school’s website, President Jacqueline Fetrow says the dismissal violates free speech.
Durante ultimately turned down the offer to return to the team. Since the initial dismissal Durante has been a guest of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus and Philadelphia Eagles players Malcolm Jenkins and Chris Long.
“I don’t think they were surprised,” Durante said. “I just felt like it was too late by that point.”
“Some would say that I’m [an activist] and some would say that I’m not,” Durante told ESPN.com. “But I don’t think I’ve done enough work to call myself that yet.”
Durante plans to finish the semester and transfer to another school where he will resume playing football.