Colts’ Frank Reich explains decision to kneel during national anthem
Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich made a strong statement during the national anthem of the Week 1 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
As his team stood arm-in-arm, Reich took a step forward and kneeled during the national anthem. It is a part of the team’s objective to bring attention to systemic racism while showing support to the Black community.
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Here’s what Reich said postgame about the decision to kneel during the anthem:
“Before we get started and get into about questions about the game, I want to briefly address our team’s statement during the national anthem. We will continue to bring attention to systemic racism and the injustice that our Black communities are enduring,” Reich told reporters. “We will continue to demonstrate our convictions to support and uplift our Black communities. This decision was made by players and coaches collectively. It was a well throughout process and supports our stance in making a meaningful change.”
Right after the national anthem, the Colts released this statement on Twitter:
“Today our football team made a statement on behalf of the Black communities in our state of Indiana; but also on behalf of all Black communities from where our players and coaches call home. Our intent is to bring attention to the issue of systemic racism and the injustice inherit therein. We also wanted to demonstrate a symbolic gesture of how we believe meaningful change happens.
TO BE CLEAR – we were not protesting the flag, the anthem, or the men and women who wear the uniform. The timing of this action is meant to highlight that the presence, power, and oppression of racism remains inconsistent with the unity and freedoms of what it means to be an American.
Our Black communities feel the weight of this issue and they are hurting. Our statement today and going forward expresses that we will not merely speak out against racism, but we will demonstrate our convictions with consistent action to support and uplift our Black communities.
Our statement included the two-fold symbolic gesture of stepping forward and kneeling:
On stepping forward: Making significant progress to end racism requires all of us to step forward. More specifically, it requires white leaders stepping forward to bring about real change to eliminate discrimination and equal the playing field in all areas, such as housing, education, and law enforcement. The changes we need are not short-term fixes. Rather, they are system changes that will have generational impact.
On kneeling: It is not a posture of defiance but rather one of humility — taken by the White community — to acknowledge the injustice and inequality that is present, and to find the courage and resolve to make the changes needed.
The team standing and locking arms is symbolic of our unity and strength. We desire to stand with and for each other and for our Black communities in the fight for justice and equality.
Join us. We will not be silent; we will not be neutral; we will not be passive!
The Colts have been one of the most outspoken teams in the NFL leading the charge against systemic racism while also giving the players a platform to discuss social issues.
