By now everyone has heard Trump’s divisive and ignorant comments aimed directly at athletes and the NFL.
WATCH- Sports Claps Back At Trump
Athletes vs Trump
Players and teams issued their own statements in response to the venom spewed by Trump, all basically stating the same message- hate, ignorance, divisiveness and injustice will not be tolerated.
Earlier this week, the Green Bay Packers and various players issued their own feelings and statements leading up to their Thursday night game against the Bears.
“People don’t want to talk about racism, said Packers’ tight end Martellus Bennett. People don’t want to talk about oppression. They want to be oblivious so they don’t have to deal with it. And when it comes to sports, people want to be even more distracted from what’s really going on in the world.
“But this is a conversation you can’t avoid. They’ve been avoiding it for so long, but now there is nowhere you can go to avoid it. The place you felt like you could avoid it with was sports, and now you still have to have this conversation. One way or another, you’re going to have to talk about it.
The team’s all-world QB made his feelings known, shouting out the haters in his own special way.
I can’t imagine what kind of social media attacks these cameramen must be enduring after taking a knee during the anthem and wearing a hat. #unity #equalityforall #love #cometogether #invitationtojoin
2,892 Likes, 137 Comments – Aaron Rodgers (@aaronrodgers12) on Instagram: “I can’t imagine what kind of social media attacks these cameramen must be enduring after taking a…”
Said Rodgers: “I think the message has been diluted a little bit and it’s been kind of taken away from what we were trying to do: show a united front, guys linking up together. There’s been a lot of hatred on my social media, probably other people’s social media, as well. Frankly don’t understand it, a lot of it.”
“This is about equality,” he continued. “This is about unity and love and growing together as a society and starting a conversation around something that may be a little bit uncomfortable for people. But we’ve got to come together and talk about these things and grow as a community, as a connected group of individuals in our society, and we’re going to continue to show love and unity, and this week we’re going to ask the fans to join in as well and come together and show people that we can be connected and we can grow together.”
The team issued their own statement, which call be read below in it’s entirety:
The NFL family is one of the most diverse communities in the world. Just look around! The eclectic group of players that you root for, the coaches you admire, the people you sit next to in the stands, those high-fiving on military bases, fans at the sports bar or during tailgate partieswe all come from different walks of life and have unique backgrounds and stories.
The game of football brings people together. As NFL players, we are a living testimony that individuals from different backgrounds and with different life experiences can work together toward a common goal.
This Thursday during the national anthem at Lambeau Field, Packers players, coaches and staff will join together with arms intertwinedconnected like the threads on your favorite jersey. When we take this action, what you will see will be so much more than just a bunch of football players locking arms. The image you will see on September 28th will be one of unity. It will represent a coming together of players who want the same things that all of us dofreedom, equality, tolerance, understanding, and justice for those who have been unjustly treated, discriminated against or otherwise treated unfairly. You will see the sons of police officers, kids who grew up in military families, people who have themselves experienced injustice and discrimination firsthand, and an array of others all linking together in a display of unity.
Those of us joining arms on Thursday will be different in so many ways, but one thing that binds us together is that we are all individuals who want to help make our society, our country and our world a better place. We believe that in diversity there can be UNI-versity. Intertwined, we represent the many people who helped build this country, and we are joining together to show that we are ready to continue to build.
Lets work together to build a society that is more fair and just.
Join us this Thursday by locking arms with whoever youre with, stranger or loved one, wherever you areintertwined and includedin this moment of unification.
– The Packers Players
Unfortunately, many still demonstrate their ignorance with foolish reactions such as making it about hating the flag, disrespecting the national anthem, they make millions and shouldn’t protest while at work, etc. Obviously they’re missing the message, but the fight continues on.
