(Carbondale, IL) — Some of the cheerleaders at Southern Illinois University say they’re aware of a backlash to their decision to kneel for the national anthem, but that’s not going to stop them. A handful of SIU cheerleaders took a knee during Saturday’s game against Illinois State even after getting death threats about their protest two weeks ago. Cheerleaders Alaysia Brandy, Ariahn Hunt and Czarina Tinker told “The Southern Illinoisan” over the weekend that they know some people are angry about their protests, but the three say that they are not going to be scared into being quiet.