Professional football players recently banded together to help create a viral video. Some of the NFL’s most championed players spoke directly to the league when they asked the NFL to openly condemn racism, stand on the side of Black Lives Matter, and admit that they were wrong in silencing players, including Colin Kaepernick, who called for peaceful protests. While the league hasn’t directly answered the requests of its black players just yet, they have issued a statement regarding the recent political climate without mentioning George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, or police brutality.
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“This is a time of self-reflection for all – the NFL is no exception. We stand with the black community because Black Lives Matter,” the NFL wrote on their Instagram page. “Through Inspire Change, the NFL, Players and our partners have supported programs and initiatives throughout the country to address systemic racism. We will continue using our platform to challenge the injustice around us.”
They added that to date, they’ve already “donated $44 million to support hundreds of worthy organizations.” Additionally, “This year, we are committing an additional $20 million to these causes and we will accelerate efforts to highlight their critical work. We know that we can and need to do more.” Players and fans are waiting to see if they’ll respond to the viral clip. Check it all out below.