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A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 15 augusT 2017
Seahawks’ Bennett plans to sit for anthem, expects backlash

By DAN GREENSPAN can we be as a society.” giving people equality. This
Associated Press Bennett was at least the is bigger than a sport.”
CARSON, California (AP) third prominent NFL player Bennett said he had spo-
— Seattle Seahawks defen- to protest during the an- ken with several other NFL
sive end Michael Bennett them in the first full week players about possible pro-
plans to sit during the na- of preseason games. Oak- tests, but had not talked
tional anthem this season land Raiders running back with Lynch yet. While he
to protest social injustice Marshawn Lynch, a former acknowledged the possi-
— and expects a backlash teammate of Bennett’s in bility of more widespread
over an issue that is “bigger Seattle, also sat. Los An- and organized protests,
than a sport.” geles Rams defensive end Bennett wanted to express
He sat on the visiting bench Robert Quinn raised his himself. “I think everybody
during “The Star-Spangled right fist, continuing his ap- has a time where they feel
Banner” before a pre- proach from last season fol- like they need to be who
season opener against the lowing then-San Francisco they are and stand up for
Los Angeles Chargers, a In this June 13, 2017, file photo, Seattle Seahawks defensive 49ers quarterback Colin what they believe in,” Ben-
decision he made before end Michael Bennett walks off the field following NFL football Kaepernick’s decision to nett said. Bennett said the
weekend protests by white practice in Renton, Wash. kneel during the anthem. aim of his protest is to make
supremacists at the Univer- Associated Press Kaepernick is a free agent, people uncomfortable. In
sity of Virginia. erything in Virginia, seeing American, but I don’t love and the fallout from his pro- the process, he hopes to
The violence in Charlottes- what’s going on out there segregation,” he added. “I test has not abated, even spur greater communica-
ville, Virginia, including the earlier today in Seattle, I don’t love riots. I don’t love as he remains unsigned. tion, understanding and
death of a young woman just wanted to be able to oppression. I don’t love Bennett is willing to deal involvement across racial,
struck by a car deliber- use my platform to be able gender slander. I just want with similar consequences. gender and socio-eco-
ately driven into a group to continue to speak over to see people have the “Of course, I’m going to nomic lines.
of counter-protesters Sat- injustice,” Bennett said. equality that they deserve, face backlash,” he said. “Everyone is in their comfort
urday, solidified Bennett’s “First of all, I want people and I want to be able to “This is bigger than me. This zone right now,” Bennett
decision. “With everything to understand I love the use this platform to continu- is bigger than football. This said. “Get out there and
that’s been going on the military. My father was in ously push the message of is bigger than anything that become uncomfortable.
last couple of months and the military. I love hot dogs that, you know, and keep we have. This is about peo- Go out there and see what
especially after the last like any other American. I journeying out and keep ple. This is about bringing it’s like out there in society
couple of days, seeing ev- love football like any other finding out how unselfish opportunities to people, right now.”q