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The Cincinnati Bengals broke their silence in the face of ongoing nationwide protests Saturday.
The team issued a statement via the team’s official website and revealed a $250,000 to community initiatives selected by players and staff.
The statement:
“Please do not mistake a lack of public commentary for indifference. The Bengals organization believes that fighting prejudice and discrimination requires action but to do so we have to listen first.
“Serious problems have been with us too long. Our Club has a proud tradition of opposing discrimination and of promoting equality through action, starting when team founder Paul Brown helped break professional sports’ color barrier in 1946 with Marion Motley and Bill Willis. Those are the principles on which the franchise was founded and those are the same principles that guide our organization’s thoughts and actions today.
“The effort to advance equality endures. Progress is needed and progress requires action. These are not just words. The Bengals have acted on these principles throughout the Club’s history and will continue to act on them.”
The statement and initiative come on the heels of many NFL teams issuing public statements and the entirety of the AFC North doing so.
Bengals players such as first overall pick Joe Burrow has spoken out on the issue and Auden Tate has been active in Florida leading cleanups.
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