12-Year-Old Swimmer Temporarily Barred From Swim Meet For BLM Swimsuit

Results for - 12-Year-Old Swimmer Temporarily Barred From Swim Meet For BLM Swimsuit

The NAACP and YMCA chapters in Duluth, Minnesota, are lending their support to a 12-year-old Black swimmer who was temporarily disqualified from a competition because of her Black Lives Matter swimsuit. Leidy Gellona was inspired to iron letters onto her swimsuit that read “Black Lives Matter” prior to her competition at Superior High School in Superior, Wisconsin, on Sunday. While getting ready for her second race of the day, Gellona was approached by a YMCA volunteer official who told her she couldn’t participate with the swimsuit she had on.-Huffington Post

1. "An independent volunteer official inappropriately barred a student athlete from taking part in the meet, due to their 'Black Lives Matter' swimsuit, stating that it 'went against USA Swimming's policy of no political language,'" the YMCA said in its statement. Do you agree with the general rule of no political language on bathing suits?

Yes

57%

1,257 votes

19%

408 votes

Undecided

24%

535 votes

2. Do you consider Black Lives Matter a political statement?

Yes

44%

968 votes

19%

413 votes

It shouldn't be but it is

25%

547 votes

Undecided

12%

272 votes

3. In a statement sent out that Sunday, the YMCA Duluth chapter sided with Lyons and stated that the volunteer had "inappropriately barred" the student. YMCA leadership reversed the decision and allowed her back into competition that day. Do you agree with allowing the girl back into the competition wearing her bathing suit?

Yes

41%

895 votes

35%

765 votes

Undecided

25%

540 votes