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Fewer Niners protest via kneel one week after Pence walkout

Zach Pereles

Playing minutes from the nation’s capital, seven San Francisco 49ers kneeled prior to their game against the Washington Redskins, a significant dip in the number kneeling in previous weeks. Thirty 49ers kneeled two weeks ago and 23 took a knee last week in Indianapolis.

Eric Reid, who joined Colin Kaepernick in protesting last year, kneeled alongside Marquise Goodwin, Adrian Colbert, Dekoda Watson, Eli Harold, Arik Armstead and K’Wuan Williams on Sunday, per The Mercury News. This comes a week after Vice President Mike Pence left the 49ers-Colts game after what he felt was a sign of anthem “disrespect” from the kneeling San Francisco players, an action many called a political stunt.

Some Niners protest racial inequality during a game to the chagrin of some Redskins fans. (AP)
Some Niners protest racial inequality during a game to the chagrin of some Redskins fans. (AP)

The rest of the 49ers stood with their arms interlocked. This display continues the protests that have been common across the league over the past four weeks following President Donald Trump calling any player who kneels a “son of a bitch” at a rally in Alabama.

The 49ers’ kneeling comes just days before a upcoming meeting between players union leaders and NFL executives at owners meetings in New York.

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