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Post by Belle on Sept 13, 2020 18:43:18 GMT -6
Seven NFL teams remained in the locker room Sunday afternoon during the presentation of the national anthem, a stark visual reminder of the league's pivot toward social justice issues. Elsewhere, many players and some coaches kneeled, sat on the bench and or raised their fists when on the field for the anthem. For Week 1, the league directed every home game to play two songs during the pregame: "Lift Ev'ry Voice And Sing" and "The Star Spangled Banner." The league does not require teams to be on the field during the anthem presentation, nor does it prohibit kneeling. Of the 24 teams that kicked off for the early or late afternoon, these seven were in the locker room for "The Star Spangled Banner:" The Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals. Meanwhile, New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins remained inside the locker room during the anthem while the rest of the team was on the field. Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich was the most prominent coach to kneel. In a statement, the Colts said: "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." At other NFL stadiums: www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29877164/multiple-anthem-approaches-social-justice
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