As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers.
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“We encourage all members of our organization to stand at attention during the national anthem out of respect and appreciation for the freedoms we are afforded as Americans”. “I still have some family in the struggle”.
Four players on the visiting Miami Dolphins-Arian Foster, Michael Thomas, Jelani Jenkins and Kenny Stills-took a knee. “It’s not about a knee, it’s not about the (symbolism), it’s about the message”.
“I actually applaud him for having the gall to stand up when he knew what kind of ridicule he was going to get, when most people would not do it, when he knew the backlash he was going to get”, he said.
National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell weighed in on Kaepernick’s protest last week as well, saying, “I don’t necessarily agree with what he’s doing”.
Walker sees it as an opportunity to learn and start a discussion.
“Gestures mean nothing without follow-through”.
“We are a team comprised of individuals with diverse backgrounds”, Baldwin said during the video. “But when people that are not of color speak up, it’s their right”. “Change is inevitable. Change will always happen”.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Marcus Peters raises his fist in the air as the national anthem plays before Sunday’s football game against the San Diego Chargers on September 11, 2016, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. “And so right now, what we’re doing as a team, we have a follow-through”.
US Vice President Joe Biden was among those holding a huge flag before the Philadelphia Eagles’ home victory over the Cleveland Browns, where a ” U-S-A, U-S-A chant broke out.
Their protests echoed one of the most famous moments of political activism in sports history, when John Carlos and Tommie Smith, two black sprinters, raised their fists during a medal ceremony at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
One 49ers player opted to help hold the giant American flag on the field, though, a la New England Patriots receiver Danny Amendola on Sunday night.
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Ahead of Sunday’s games, Kaepernick’s teammate Eric Reid and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane had shown their support with similar protests, as has NWSL’s Megan Rapinoe, who knelt in solidarity with Kaepernick before the Washington Spirit shut down her protest by altering the pre-game ceremony.
