Week 2 action of the NFL pre-season didn't kick off before an update on the status of league-wide protests was brought to the fore on the Philadelphia Eagles sidelines, as the Star Spangled Banner played. Malcolm Jenkins, who was one of the more vocal and consistent stars to stand in solidarity with Kaepernick, followed through with his vow to continue raising his fist during the pre-game ceremony. However, this time, he was joined by new teammate Chris Long, who contributed a unique gesture to the demonstration.
As Jenkins and Long clenched their eyes, they were bonded by physical contact, with a pledging Long holding his free arm extended, to place a hand on the veteran strong safety's back. For Long, it wasn't an atypical act. He too consistently provided Kaepernick his outspoken support in 2016, and would finish off the season as one of the Super Bowl Champion Patriots to abstain from joining the rest of the team to meet President Trump at the White House. This week marks a particularly emotional time for Long, who watched along with the nation, as his hometown of Charlottesville, VA exploded into racial violence.
While it will be interesting to see if any other Eagles become inspired to make a statement during the playing of the National Anthem going forth, fans can expect that there will be at least two dissenters with Long now joining Jenkins in Philadelphia. In speaking to his intention to bring his protest into 2017, Jenkins recently told the New York Daily News, “You don’t want the conversation to stop. I wasn’t sure who from last year would carry it over, when the guy who started it is no longer there, but I think it’s very, very important for people to hand off that baton and continue to use the platform while you have it.”
Source: yardbarker.com
