Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall took to a knee during the playing of the USA national anthem before Denver’s NFL season opener against Carolina.
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Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane and soccer star Megan Rapinoe also kneeled during the U.S. anthem recently in support of Kaepernick’s message.
What are your thoughts on Brandon Marshall standing with Colin Kaepernick by not standing for the National Anthem during the NFL opener on Thursday night.
“People can question my patriotism, but I have the utmost respect for this country, for this land, for the military”, Marshall said. I’m not against the police or America. I’m against social injustice.
On Friday morning, word got around that Marshall had lost a local sponsor in Colorado, the Air Academy Federal Credit Union, due to his protest. “We wish Brandon well on his future endeavors”, the company said. “I’m just against social injustice”, he said, adding that he would be donating an “undisclosed amount” of money to charities that help veterans.
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 chose to join in and replicate the gesture. I could lose my credibility in my community when I want to do things.
Marshall said he didn’t discuss his action before the game with any member of the Broncos except tight end Virgil Green and decided Sunday to do it. Marshall will “absolutely” continue to do it, he said.
On the other hand, many-including me-questioned the call for a boycott over a peaceful protest when fans continued to support the league despite several sexual assault and domestic abuse scandals. This is our only platform to really be heard … “When we have an opinion, I feel like a lot of people bash us for it”. It’s nearly like they want us to only go with the grain.
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Broncos coach Gary Kubiak noted in preseason that while he wants all his players to stand for the national anthem but he respects their beliefs if they choose not to do so. I believe in his actions. “I am going to keep focus on football”. “Some people are going to stand by me, some people aren’t”.
