Which NFL Players Kneeled This Week and Why

This week, several NFL players took a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice. Here’s a look at which players knelt and why.

Introduction

Since 2016, when Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the national anthem to protest against police brutality and racial injustice, other NFL players have followed suit.

This week, following the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in police custody, several NFL players have once again taken a knee during the national anthem. Some have also raised their fists in the air, in a nod to Tommie Smith and John Carlos, two Olympic athletes who did the same at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

Here are some of the NFL players who kneeled this week:

· Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints wide receiver
· Malcolm Jenkins, free agent safety
· Anquan Boldin, former NFL wide receiver
· Kenny Stills, Houston Texans wide receiver

What is kneeling and why do people do it?

Kneeling during the national anthem became a symbol of peaceful protest against police brutality and racial inequality after NFL player Colin Kaepernick first did it in 2016.

Other players soon joined him, and the protests have continued into the 2017 season, even after President Donald Trump weighed in, calling for players who kneel to be fired.

Trump has also said that players should be required to stand for the anthem, but the NFL has not implemented any new rules regarding the demonstrations.

Here is a list of the NFL players who have kneeled or sat during the national anthem this week:

History of kneeling in the NFL

The kneeling movement began in 2016 when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice. What followed was a nationwide debate over the meaning of patriotism, the role of athletes in society and the First Amendment.

Since then, other players have continued to kneel or raise their fists during the anthem to protest social injustice, even as Kaepernick remains unsigned by an NFL team. President Trump has been a vocal critic of the protests, tweeting frequently about them and calling on owners to fire players who participate.

Here is a look at which NFL players have protested this season and why they have chosen to do so.

[Player 1]
[Player 2]
[Player 3] etc

Players who knelt this week

This week, several NFL players knelt during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. The protests come in the wake of the recent police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Players who knelt this week include:
-Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who started the protests in 2016 to bring attention to police brutality and racial injustice. Kaepernick is currently a free agent.
-A pair of New Orleans Saints players, running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Deonte Harris.
-Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry, and Eagles linebacker Alex Singleton.
-Los Angeles Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree
-New York Jets wide receivers Jermaine Kearse and Robby Anderson, as well as safety Jamal Adams and linebacker Jordan Jenkins.

Reasons for kneeling

Players have given a variety of reasons for kneeling during the anthem, including:

– to protest police brutality and racism;
– to support the Black Lives Matter movement;
– to protest President Donald Trump’s comments about NFL players who kneel.

Reactions to kneeling

Some fans booed players who took a knee during the national anthem, while other fans cheered them on. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement praising the players for “exercising their rights to freedom of expression.”

“The NFL and our players are at our best when we help create a sense of unity in our country and our culture,” Goodell said. “There is no better example than the amazing response from our clubs and players to the terrible natural disasters we’ve experienced over the last month.”

Many players have chosen to kneel during the national anthem in recent weeks, saying they are protesting racial injustice and police brutality. The protests began last year with then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who kneeled during the anthem to protest police brutality against black Americans.

Conclusion

In conclusion, NFL players knelt this week to protest against police violence and racial injustice. The number of players who knelt was lower than in previous weeks, but the protests were still widespread. Players from all 32 teams participated, and the demonstrations continued to receive support from coaches and other team personnel. It is clear that the issue of racial injustice is still important to many NFL players, and they will continue to use their platform to raise awareness and call for change.