Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett celebrated a sack against Colin Kaepernick’s former team the San Francisco 49ers with a black power salute.
Before the game, Bennett’s brother Reshaud Bennett led a Black Lives Matter rally with social justice activist Nikkita Oliver in Seattle on Sunday.
Michael Bennett and other NFL players have been following Kaepernick’s lead from last year by not standing the National Anthem.
Michael Bennett raised his fist in the black power symbol after a sack against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday
Before the game, Black Lives Matter demonstrators showed support for the Seattle Seahawks defensive end after he accused the Las Vegas police of racially motivated excessive force
Kaepernick was not picked up this season and has been criticized by those on the right for protesting during the National Anthem.
President Trump blasted the NFL player and has even expressed delight that he has not been signed since the silent protest.
Last month Bennett accused Las Vegas police of racially motivated excessive force, saying he was threatened at gunpoint and handcuffed following a report of gunshots at an after-hours club at a casino-hotel.
Police said they’re investigating, but that Bennett failed to stop for officers searching a crowded casino for what they believed to be an active shooter just hours after the August 26 boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor.
Bennett’s brother led a Black Lives Matter rally outside the stadium before the game
His other brother Martellus Bennett gave a black power salute during the National Anthem on Sunday before playing the Atlanta Falcons
Michael told the Seattle Times he appreciated his brother’s support, saying: ‘It’s good to always have your family support you and also to have a lot of people in the city support me, it’s just a really good thing.’
On the Seahawks alone, center Justin Britt, running back Thomas Rawls, defensive end Cliff Avril and defensive end Frank Clark also sat down according to ESPN.
In sports, the symbol was most notably used during the 1968 Olympics by African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos while the National Anthem played.
Michael Bennett’s other brother tight end for the Green Bay Packers Martellus Bennett raised his fist in the black power symbol during the National Anthem Sunday before playing the Atlanta Falcons.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Malcolm Jenkins raised his fist today as well before taking the field to play the Kansas City Chiefs.