A controversial campaign initiated by the former NFL defender Colin Kapernik in protest against racial injustice and police brutality, it continues to bear fruit.
According to New York Times, The NFL will continue to play “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, widely known as the national anthem of the Blacks, before the matches in the 2021 season.
The NFL began playing the song, written more than 120 years ago by the NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson, following the global race for racial justice sparked by the police assassination of George Floyd and Breona Taylor in 2020
In addition, the league will allow players to display social justice messages on their helmet stickers. There are six approved slogans, including “End racism” and “It takes us all.”
League officials changed their minds about players kneeling during the U.S. national anthem in protest of police brutality against blacks. Kapernik began the demonstration, which provoked outrage from those who said it was disrespectful. The former San Fransico 49ers defender, who led the team to Super Bowl XLVII, was blackmailed into refusing to stop kneeling.
Against the backdrop of global demonstrations against police violence following Floyd’s assassination, the NFL officially apologized for silencing players’ peaceful protests, acknowledging that “we were wrong not to listen to NFL players earlier and encouraged everyone to speak out and protest peacefully.” “.
CONNECTED: NFL criticized for “apology” to players who protest without turning to Colin Copernicus
“We, the NFL, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people,” said the NFL commissioner. Roger Goodell said on Twitter. “We, the NFL, admit that we are wrong not to listen to NFL players before and encourage everyone to talk and protest peacefully. We, the NFL, believe that Black Lives matters. “