It said in a statement, “AAFCU is a membership-based organization who has proudly served the military community for over 60 years. We wish Brandon well on his future endeavors”, wrote president Glen Strebe on Facebook.
Advertisement
“I’m not against the military, I’m not against America”, he said.
The linebacker, following in the path of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, crouched down on the sideline before the anthem began and remained in that position while his team-mates stood to his left.
Marshall has become the first of the players who have protested so far to lose a sponsorship deal over their actions, but with a full slate of games scheduled for Sunday, there may well be others who made a decision to join in and replicate the gesture.
One of the biggest talking points coming out of the Thursday night opening game of the National Football League season between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers didn’t even happen during the game.
Kaepernick’s 49ers teammate Eric Reid joined him sitting out during the team’s preseason finale and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane also joined Colin in the protest last week against the Oakland Raiders. It’s nearly like they want us to only go with the grain. He said his actions were not out of disrespect for the military or law enforcement, but an opportunity to take a stand for what he believed. “So I definitely want to stand by him”, Marshall felt that his actions on Thursday night would further the conversation that was started, and hopefully lead to more players speaking out.
Advertisement
“If you don’t think about that, obviously it’s going to send the wrong message to some people”. “I prayed about this long and hard, and decided this is what I wanted to do”. “So when we have an opinion and we speak it, I feel a lot of people bash us for what we have to say”. “To me, that’s exactly what we’re talking about”, Marshall said. So Chuck Pagano understands that if a player chooses to take a knee for the national anthem, he has a right to do so. Marshall said. He went on to express his gratitude and support for his former teammate Kaepernick, and stood by his decision.
