Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall knelt during the USA national anthem ahead of the NFL’s season opener yesterday in the latest player protest against racial injustice and police brutality.
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“AAFCU is a membership-based organization who has proudly served the military community for over 60 years”. Marshall, like Kaepernick, said he would continue to kneel during the anthem and promised to donate to charities like Wounded Warriors, the Post reported.
The San Francisco 49ers quarterback sat or kneeled for “The Star-Spangled Banner” during exhibition games to protest treatment of African Americans after an off-season of shootings of unarmed black men by police and killings of police officers in response. Interestingly, the AAFCU’s most recent ad from earlier this week advertised a “Rockies suite night with Brandon Marshall”, just days before he was dropped as an endorser.
Marshall was later removed from the game, but not because of his protest. “I’m against social injustice”. Which is what took me so long to do it in the first place, because I was wondering what’s the end game? I’m against social injustice.
Kaepernick was joined in his protest by teammate Eric Reid at the 49ers’ final pre-season game, while Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane remained seated during the anthem at a recent pre-season game against the Oakland Raiders.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color”, Kaepernick has said.
But businesses and sponsors alike are not bound to the athletes representing them and that could be a deciding factor in player’s kneeling in protest in the future. “I am going to keep focus on football”. I believe in his actions.
Thursday, Kubiak, without offering his opinion on the Marshall’s decision to take a knee, reiterated his support for his player. Some people are bashing him on the Internet, but I’m not bashing him at all.
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“While we encourage members of the organization to stand during the Anthem, we understand, respect it’s a personal decision”. He had a bit more to say on Monday after a fan pulled up outside the Broncos’ team facility and burned a shirt with Marshall’s name on it. “I believe in our guys and I believe in them wholeheartedly”.
