NFL players show support for Colin Kaepernick's anthem protest

By Ben Reynolds

Image: Wide receiver Kenny Stills was one of four Miami Dolphins players to take a knee during the national anthem

The NFL protests inspired by Colin Kaepernick are growing with a number of players making gestures before the opening games of the regular season on Sunday. 

The San Francisco 49ers quarterback's refusal to stand for the national anthem during pre-season in order to draw attention to racial inequality has caused controversy throughout the country, with Kaepernick accused of disrespecting the US flag and military.

But he was offered support ahead of the 49ers clash with the LA Rams on Monday evening, with four Miami Dolphins players - Arian Foster, Michael Thomas, Jelani Jenkins and Kenny Stills - kneeling during the Star Spangled Banner while the Seattle Seahawks linked arms on the opposite side of the field. 

Image: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers takes a knee on the sidelines during the US national anthem in pre-season

In Kansas, Marcus Peters raised a gloved fist during the anthem before his team's game against the San Diego Chargers, with his team-mates locking arms as a sign of solidarity after discussing the issue as a group.

"It was our goal to be unified as a team and to be respectful of everyone's opinions, and the remembrance of 9/11," the team said in a statement. "It's our job as professional athletes to make a positive impact on our communities and to be proactive when change is needed."

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On Friday, Peters said: "What was going on in law enforcement, it does need to change. It does need to change for all, equal opportunities for everybody, not just us as black Americans... I don't think nothing is being done about it."

Meanwhile New England Patriots' Devin McCourty and Martellus Bennett both raised their fists after the anthem - as did several Tennessee Titans players before their game against Minnesota.

Also See:

Image: Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a civil rights gesture at the 1968 Olympics

In the 1968 Olympics, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists, in what was known as the Black Power salute, as they stood on the podium for the national anthem.  

The protests came on the same day that America remembered the people who were killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
 

Week One Results

Thursday
Carolina Panthers 21-20 Denver Broncos
Sunday
Green Bay Packers 27-23 Jacksonville Jaguars
San Diego Chargers 27-33 Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders 35-34 New Orleans Saints
Cincinnati Bengals 23-22 New York Jets
Cleveland Browns 10-29 Philadelphia Eagles
Minnesota Vikings 25-16 Tennessee Titans
Chicago Bears 14-23 Houston Texans
Buffalo Bills 7-13 Baltimore Ravens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-24 Atlanta Falcons
Miami Dolphins 10-12 Seattle Seahawks
New York Giants 20-19 Dallas Cowboys
Detroit Lions 39-35 Indianapolis Colts
New England Patriots 23-21 Arizona Cardinals
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