In response to the protests against police brutality that have swept across the United States, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement Saturday that "there remains an urgent need for action" following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and that the "NFL family is greatly saddened by the tragic events across our country." Goodell added that "the protesters' reactions to these incidents reflect the pain, anger, and frustration that so many of us feel." Goodell's comments weren't particularly well-received, however, as people took to social media to point out that former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has remained out of the league for years following his non-violent protests of police brutality during the National Anthem. [ESPN, NJ.com]
Editor's note:
It does little good when powerful white men spout pious platitudes while not having addressed urgently earlier complaints of injustice. Playing "ain't it awful" after the fact exemplifies hypocrisy. People should not support NFL football until the league addresses the issue of police brutality and racist policing in the U.S. especially when its players and teams discriminate against players who protest unjust treatment as Colin Kaepernick has done.
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