NFL players across league take part in social justice protests on opening Sunday of season
SHOWS:
INTERNET (SEPTEMBER 13, 2020) (SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)
1. STILL IMAGE FROM INDIANPOLIS COLTS TWITTER PAGE WITH STATEMENT FROM TEAM ON SOCIAL JUSTICE, SAYING:
"We will not be silent. We will not be neutral. We will not be passive."
2. STILL IMAGE OF TOP HALF OF INDIANAPOLIS COLTS STATEMENT ON SOCIAL JUSTICE
3. STILL IMAGE OF BOTTOM HALF OF INDIANAPOLIS COLTS STATEMENT ON SOCIAL JUSTICE
4. STILL IMAGE FROM COLIN KAEPERNICK'S TWITTER PAGE, SAYING:
"While the NFL runs propaganda about how they care about Black Life, they are still actively blackballing Eric Reid for fighting for the Black community. Eric set 2 franchise records last year, and is one of the best defensive players in the league."
5. STILL IMAGE FROM THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS TWITTER PAGE, SAYING:
"The Gjallarhorn will not be sounded today in honor of George Floyd and others who no longer have a voice due to racism."
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 13, 2020) (USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES - MUST COURTESY 'USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES') (MUTE)
6. STILL PHOTO OF THE GJALLARHORN AT U.S. BANK STADIUM DURING THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS GAME AGAINST THE GREEN BAY PACKERS (GJALLARHORN IS SOUNDED WHEN VIKINGS SCORE POINTS) (PACKERS STAYED IN LOCKER ROOM BEFORE GAME)
7. STILL PHOTO OF VIKINGS PLAYERS AND COACHES STANDING BENEATH PHOTO OF GEORGE FLOYD ON VIDEOBOARD
8. STILL PHOTO OF VIKINGS PLAYERS AND COACHES STANDING DURING 'IT TAKES ALL OF US' PRESENTATION BEFORE GAME AGAINST PACKERS
9. STILL PHOTO OF NFL'S 'IT TAKES ALL OF US' SOCIAL JUSTICE MESSAGE PAINTED ONTO END ZONE
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 13, 2020) (USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES - MUST COURTESY 'USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES') (MUTE)
10. STILL PHOTO OF INDIANAPOLIS COLTS PLAYERS AND COACHES STANDING TOGETHER DURING 'IT TAKES ALL OF US' PRESENTATION BEFORE GAME AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS TIAA BANK FIELD (JAGUARS STAYED IN LOCKER ROOM BEFORE GAME)
11. STILL PHOTO OF COLTS PLAYERS STANDING BEFORE GAME AT JAGUARS
STORY: National Football League players staged pregame protests from coast-to-coast on Sunday, taking a knee during the playing of the U.S. national anthem in mostly empty stadiums, avoiding the embarrassment of having fans boo, which overshadowed the season opener.
The Jacksonville Jaguars were the only team hosting a Week One game allowing fans on Sunday, so there were no repeats of Thursday's scenes at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium when members of the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans were booed during a moment of silence for social justice.
The Jaguars took no chances and like several teams remained in the locker room during the singing of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," often called the Black national anthem, and the "Star-Spangled Banner."
Their opponents, the Indianapolis Colts, were on the sidelines, however, where head coach Frank Reich stepped forward and knelt during the national anthem as players locked arms behind him.
"Our intent is to bring attention to the issue of systemic racism," the Colts said in a lengthy statement. "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."
Players took to the field following a period during which social justice issues rose to the fore, triggered by the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, in police custody in Minneapolis, and the police shooting of another Black man, Jacob Blake, in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
The NFL, which for years had been locked in debate with players over kneeling protests, changed course in June when it said the league made mistakes in not listening to its players on the issue.
President Donald Trump has been a vocal critic of players kneeling during the anthem, saying previously it was "disrespecting" the country and the flag.
The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, who represent the two states where the Blake and Floyd events occurred, met in Week One in Minneapolis.
The Packers remained in the locker room during the pregame anthems, while several members of the Vikings took a knee.
In Atlanta, the Falcons, who paid tribute to late civil rights leader John Lewis by naming him honorary captain for their season opener, kicked off to the Seattle Seahawks, with both teams then taking a knee.
Four years ago, San Francisco 49ers' quarterback Colin Kaepernick sparked controversy and helped inspire the Black Lives Matter movement by kneeling during the playing of the national anthem to put a spotlight on police brutality.
Kaepernick, who has gone unsigned since the 2016 season and filed a collusion grievance against NFL owners in 2017, took to Twitter on Sunday to dismiss the league's newfound interest in social justice as nothing more than propaganda, pointing to former 49ers teammate Eric Reid.
A Pro Bowl safety with the 49ers, Reid was among the first players to join Kaepernick's protest and after being released by San Francisco remained unsigned until joining the Carolina Panthers in 2018.
After two standout seasons in Carolina, Reid was let go by the Panthers earlier this year. "While the NFL runs propaganda about how they care about Black Life, they are still actively blackballing Eric Reid for fighting for the Black community. Eric set 2 franchise records last year, and is one of the best defensive players in the league," tweeted Kaepernick..
(Production: David Grip)
