The Washington Redskins and the Oakland Raiders both protested the national anthem before their game on Sunday night at Fedex Field in Hyattsville, Md.
Both teams protested the national anthem. The Raiders sat on the bench with their arms linked. The Redskins stood for the anthem with their arms linked, while many kneeled. These actions come following many similar protests, which occurred across the country throughout the National Football League by teams, players, coaches, and owners Sunday.
The entire Raiders football team, other than starting quarterback Derek Carr, sat during the national anthem with their arms linked. A majority of the Redskins stood for the anthem with their arms linked, although many Redskins players kneeled. The joint protest was reportedly led by Redskin’s cornerback Josh Norman. The move was reportedly met by fans booing their team.
The Redskins released a statement on Twitter following their protests, calling for unity, civility, and respect:
A statement from the Washington Redskins. pic.twitter.com/GsCMfWTZ7T
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) September 25, 2017
The Raiders tweeted a photo of the team sitting with their arms locked and the caption “United” after their protest.
United. pic.twitter.com/5rQI3G6oMb
— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) September 25, 2017
The Raiders owner Mark Davis also issued the following statement to ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez Sunday morning. He said he told the team to protest with class.
About a year ago, before our Tennessee game, I met with Derek Carr and Khalil Mack to ask their permission to have Tommie Smith light the torch for my father before the game in Mexico City. I explained to them that I was asking their permission because I had previously told them that I would prefer that they not protest while in the Raiders uniform. And should they have something to say, once their uniform was off, I might go up there with them. Over the last year, though, the streets have gotten hot and there has been a lot of static in the air and recently, fuel has been added to the fire. I can no longer ask our team to not say something while they are in a Raider uniform. The only thing I can ask them to do is do it with class. Do it with pride. Not only do we have to tell people there is something wrong, we have to come up with answers. That’s the challenge in front of us as Americans and human beings.
Kneeling started in the 2016 football season with then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and has spread to other players, but today’s protests appear to be the multiple entire teams have done it in solidarity. (RELATED: Ravens And Jaguars Kneel For US Anthem In London [VIDEO])
WATCH:
NFL players around the league are kneeling in protest during the national anthem, following President Donald Trump’s statement that players who do so should be fired.
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