Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall joined Colin Kaepernick in his national anthem protest at the start of the NFL season but has now decided to stand again, though he hasn’t stopped fighting for social and racial justice.
Marshall released a statement through his instagram account in which he says he is encouraged by the progress that he has seen within the Denver community, but that there is still much work to be done despite the fact that he'll no longer be kneeling in protest.
“For the 1st half of the season, I’ve been taking a knee for the National Anthem to raise awareness for social injustice and to start conversation about what all of us can do to make a positive change. I’m encouraged with the many productive discussions and progress that has taken place as the Denver Police department has decided to review its use of force policy. I’m proud to have joined so many of my peers throughout sports who’ve also made their own statements.
“Going forward, I will be standing for the National Anthem — not because everything is perfect, or because I’m changing my stance on things. But because of my hope for what we can become. Just because I am standing doesn’t mean the work will end. There’s much work to be done. I’ll continue to recognize and support organizations that are stepping up as leaders and making a real difference in our community, and I will do my part to be there for those in need.”
Marshall took a knee prior to Denver's Sunday night game against the Raiders while his coach Gary Kubiak stood next to him as a show of support for Marshall and the way he has expressed his feelings and how he dealt with the backlash.
Marshall will continue to support the Idriss Stelley Foundation, a grassroots organization in the Bay Area that offer free support to victims of police violence, and will be standing for O’Shaine Evans, an Oakland man who was shot and killed by a police officer in San Francisco back in 2014.
[Via]
