Kansas City Chiefs players also locked arms to show unity while the player at the end of their line, Marcus Peters, raised a black-gloved fist – a gesture reminiscent of USA sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos as they stood on the podium following their 200m final at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. It’s never the time in somebody else’s eye, because they’ll always feel like it’s good enough. Colin Kaepernick, who has been under scrutiny by a number of people in the country, chose to take a stand for the Black people and minorities in the country who have been suffering from systemic racism and oppression for decades.
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“After having a number of thoughtful discussions as a group regarding our representation during the National Anthem, we decided collectively to lock arms as a sign of solidarity”.
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”.
Peters’ raised fist was reminiscent of a similar protest by Tommie Smith and John Carlos, gold and bronze medalists after the 200-meter run at the 1968 Olympic Games on the winners’ platform. Marcus is from the East Bay and who am I to say anything? Videos from both President Obama, and George W. Bush played before the games, and players wore commemorative 9/11 decals on their helmets.
“It’s not about attention for me, though”, Peters said after the game.
A member of the military holds a giant American flat during the national anthem before the first half of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, in Atlanta.
Seattle Seahawks’ cornerback Jeremy Lane, San Francisco 49ers’ safety Eric Reid, and Denver Broncos’ linebacker Brandon Marshall have at times done the same as Kaepernick, kneeling during the anthem, but Peters’ take on the protest adds a new twist to the story. “I salute him for that”.
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The protests have also provoked anger in some fans who see the gesture as disrespecting the USA flag, the military, and the country in general. Both then appeared on the medal stands with raised, black-gloved fists throughout the USA national anthem in what they called a “human rights salute”. “Progress can and will be made only if we stand together”.
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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. Teammate Danny Amendola was seen clutching the American flag unfurled on the field in Arizona.
