For the second straight week of the 2017 NFL season, Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett sat during the playing of the National Anthem on Sunday, September 17. But he wasn't done making a statement before Seahawks fans at CenturyLink Field; not with his social justice comrade Colin Kaepernick's former team coming to the play them at home. With just over two minutes to go until the half, the Niners were within scoring distance and looking to close in on Seattle's 6-0 lead. But they were prevented from gaining a new set of downs thanks to Bennett's savage attack on Kaepernick successor Brian Hoyer, whom he brought down for a sac on 3rd down.
After coming to his feet Bennett hopped a few steps over towards the middle of the field and lifted his black-gloved fist in the fashion popularized during the Black Power Movement of the 1960's and 70's. The crowd cheered in pandemonium for their social activist star. There may have been plenty of game left to play but is no doubting Bennett was relishing in the moment. Here was the player responsible for the gathering of some 50 protesters picketing outside of the stadium, who had come to show their support for Bennett as he leaves behind a wild couple of weeks, over which time much of the talk surrounding the Seahawks had to do with video of him being violently detained by Las Vegas police coming to light.
“It means everything. It’s always good to have your family support you and also a lot of people in the city to supporting me. I think it was just a really good thing,” Bennett told reporters while addressing the protest after the game. While retired and current players around the league often allude to activism in the sport as a distraction, it is clear that for Bennett, it has served as motivation.
