OSU’s Seth Towns briefly detained by police at protest

COLUMBUS (WCMH) — Ohio State basketball forward and Columbus Northland grad Seth Towns was briefly detained by Columbus police Friday night, but was released soon after and not arrested. Towns was taking part in a protest in downtown Columbus when he was detained.

Towns released the following statement on Twitter:

Towns shared the following video of him being detained by Columbus Police:

SAY HIS NAME pic.twitter.com/PikjTPTpMq

— Seth (@seth_towns17) May 30, 2020

Towns also commented about being detained less than 24 hours after graduating from Harvard.

In a span of just 24 hours, I walked across a Harvard virtual graduation stage into the back of police van alongside other peaceful protestors—both of which I am equally proud of. pic.twitter.com/qtvXmw0Fwq

— Seth (@seth_towns17) May 30, 2020

True voice is not found in words spoken, however, but in steps taken. These hurtful times call for us to come together and bend the arc of justice—to be true and fearless in our expression of compassion, we must find ways to be the change we need.

— Seth (@seth_towns17) May 30, 2020

OSU head coach Chris Holtmann tells NBC4 “Seth and I spoke last night and we fully support him and his right to protest.”

This past week, Towns earned his degree from Harvard. His former head coach at Harvard, Tommy Ammaker, took to Twitter Saturday to support Towns and his right to protest.

A statement from Coach Amaker. pic.twitter.com/vCG0YO9YBP

— Harvard Basketball (@HarvardMBB) May 30, 2020

“I fully support, and am proud of, Seth in his continued fight for social justice, a cause that has been near and dear to his heart since he arrived on campus four years ago,” Ammaker wrote.

In March, Towns announced his decision to transfer to OSU. He’s a former Ivy League player of the year, but has dealt with knee injuries the past two years.