Sidelines across the NFL were emboldened with teamwide protests in the aftermath of President Trump's chastisement of National Anthem demonstrators, on Sunday, September 24. But the Carolina Panthers, for the most part, weren't represented among the demonstrations. Coach Ron Rivera confessed after their game against New Orleans that during a meeting held to discuss the matter, he advised that what they needed to do as a team was "all stand, look at the flag and be at attention, left hand down at our side and right hand on our heart," and to remain conscious of their American virtues while doing so. But although Rivera's squad complied with their coach's instructions, it didn't mean they didn't stand in opposition to Trump's attack on their protesting peers.
"My opinion: some of the remarks were unacceptable, you know, especially in certain people's position. But at the end of the day, we still need work in our society as a whole," quarterback Cam Newton said during the team's postgame interview. While Newton spoke to being aware of the nation's racial inequality "epidemic," he made vague reference to seeing wrong "on both sides" concerning "certain things happening." Still, he vowed to continue promoting awareness via his foundation, before lending the room full of reporters some clarity on what the backlash against the Commander-In-Chief is about.
"You know, I just feel like a lot of people wanna be heard. You know, in my opinion, you know, you just want people to hear your side.," said Newton. "And I feel like, when you have a group of people that have been oppressed or feel as if what they do is not important, that's when the problems happen."
