Originally Posted by
Mr KLC
A University of Virginia alum, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long posted multiple tweets critical of President Donald Trump’s response to the Charlottesville, Va., tragedy.
And on Thursday, the veteran showed support for one of his new teammates. Long put his hand on Malcolm Jenkins‘ back during the vocal safety’s raised-fist anthem protest, remarking after the preseason game it was time for more white players to get behind their black peers protesting for racial equality.
“I haven’t seen statistics, but I’d be willing to bet the vast majority of people voicing those white supremacist sentiments were from out of town,” Long said recently, via Tim McManus of ESPN.com. “The majority of the people that were defending our hometown against ideals like that were from Charlottesville, or students. It’s disheartening, but I really think it’s desperation for those folks to feel threatened by us doing the right thing.”
Michael Bennett and Marshawn Lynch became two more players protesting earlier this preseason by sitting during the anthem. The Seattle Seahawks defensive end also said white players joining them would change the conversation about how this is perceived.
“It would take a white player to really get things changed,” Bennett said during an interview on ESPN’s “SC6.” “Because when somebody from the other side understands and they step up and they speak up about it … it would change the whole conversation. Because when you bring somebody who doesn’t have to be a part of (the) conversation making himself vulnerable in front of it, I think when that happens, things will really take a jump.”