When Colin Kaepernick made the decision to kneel during the national anthem in 2016, it not only cost him his career (at least up to this point) it also stirred up a tremendous amount of controversy, with nearly everyone – including the President – weighing in.
Kaepernick’s kneeling was done as a peaceful protest about police brutality against people of color, and although it has been four years since he last knelt he is back in the news, thanks to the recent protests nationwide in response to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last month.
Many current players have spoken out, indicating they intend to follow in Kaepernick’s footsteps and kneel during the 2020 season.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is the latest to state his intention, telling Arizona reporters on a Zoom call on Wednesday that he plans to kneel this season.
“I’ll be kneeling,” Murray said. “I stand for what’s right and that’s the bottom line. I call it like I see it. What’s been going on is completely wrong. I will definitely be taking a knee.”
So far, no one on the Seahawks has indicated they will be kneeling in 2020, although it’s fair to assume Duane Brown and Branden Jackson, who have spent the national anthem in the locker room the last two seasons to avoid punishment, will likely be joining Murray on a knee this season.
In fact, it seems plausible the Seahawks, and other teams, may come up with a way to protest all together, either by kneeling, holding hands, etc. that demonstrates their unity while also showing their solidarity with those fighting police brutality in the states.
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