Baltimore, Maryland – Having claimed that players of his team who choose not to stand for the National Anthem will not be allowed to play, Jerry Jones received an official response from The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). NAACP is the original civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909 as a bi-racial organization to advance justice for African Americans.
NAACP interim President and CEO Derrick Johnson stated how the issue wasn’t about the flag of the U.S.
‘This is not an issue about our flag, this is an issue about police brutality, racism, and the ability of members of the NFL whose communities are disproportionately impacted by police misconduct to peacefully say enough.’
‘This is not simply a Black issue due to the number of white people also killed by police, but we know historically that when justice occurs for African Americans, all other members of our society benefit as well,’ exclaimed Johnson.
Even though African Americans make up for 13 percent of the population, they are held accountable for almost a quarter of those who were killed by the police.
‘Jerry Jones’ comments are more than tone-deaf, more than misinformed and misguided – they are a public commitment by an NFL owner to violate his players’ Constitutional right to free speech – one of the principles on which our nation was founded. They are proof that athletes like Colin Kaepernick who have quietly and peacefully used their platform to protest violence against communities of color do so at their own peril’ stated Tony Covington. Tony Covington is a former NFL player and Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at the NAACP.
Considering that Vice President Pence walked out of a game in which athletes refused to stand during the national anthem the NAACP believes that the NFL must take a strong stance on behalf of its athletes and their rights. It doesn’t matter that Vice President Pence did this due to President Trump’s request. NAACP has sent an invitation to Commissioner Goodell to talk about protecting the players in the best way possible. NAACP has high hopes about Commissioner Goodell’s intention to step up and defend the players.
