Unlike Fox Sports, the Seattle Seahawks are taking the protest against Black oppression seriously by launching a charity. (Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
The heat surrounding NFL players protesting injustice during the national anthem isn’t backing down and two sports entities are responding in drastically different ways. Fox Sports announced they won’t give the protest any spotlight at all while the Seattle Seahawks are taking their demonstration further by launching a fund to address justice and equality.
On its decision to eschew airing what has been a tradition for almost a decade, Fox Sports said it would only air the national anthem for the Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints game.
“As we have in previous broadcasts of NFL games from London, Fox will show the national anthem as well as ‘God Save the Queen’ live.” Fox said in a statement to Sports Illustrated Sunday, Oct. 1 “As is standard procedure, regionalized coverage of NFL game airing on Fox this Sunday will not show the national anthem live; however, our cameras are always rolling and we will document the response of players and coaches on the field.”
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That has made no impact on the Seahawks’ stance.
After the Seahawks remained in the locker room ahead of the game against the Tennesee Titans Sunday, Sept. 24, the Washington-based team announced the Seahawks Players Equality & Justice for All Action Fund.
An invitation from our players to take action. https://t.co/k7f0mNcH3U pic.twitter.com/mG6AajdTlA
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) September 29, 2017
Cornerback Richard Sherman said “it’s imperative” for such an organization to exist.
“Our team wanted to do something that made a difference, we wanted to make a tangible difference,” he said in a statement. “Enough words have been said, enough actions have been shown, and we want to go out there and help as many people as we can who have been affected by divisiveness and inequality.”
“This is the time,” added defensive end Michael Bennett, who has long been outspoken in his support of protest launcher Colin Kaepernick. “When is a better time than now to change the future? Now is when we act. We can’t wait until things get so bad that it’s too late to change.”
Fans wanting to contribute can do so online to support education and leadership programs that address issues surrounding equality and justice.
In the meantime, the Seahawks have continued to demonstrate in the name of Black freedom. Seven other teammates joined Bennett as he sat on the sidelines during the national anthem Sunday, Oct. 1 before taking on the Indianapolis Colts.
Whole group of Seahawks stay seated for anthem. With Oboushi and Bennett standing with a hand on their pads pic.twitter.com/WxbkotV2yv
— Stefanie Loh ｜ 卢敏仪 (@StefanieLoh) October 2, 2017
