Michael Bennett: white players need to join anthem protest to make impact

• Seattle Seahawks player sat for anthem following violence in Charlottesville

• San Francisco 49ers GM John Lynch says protests are ‘divisive’

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, who sat for the national anthem last weekend, says the protest movement started by Colin Kaepernick would be more effective if a white player joined in.

Kaepernick, and other NFL players, started sitting out the anthem last season in protest against racial injustice in the United States. To date, no white NFL players have joined them, although the US soccer international Megan Rapinoe knelt for the anthem last year.

“It would take a white player to really get things changed,” Bennett told ESPN on Wednesday, “because when somebody from the other side understands and they step up and they speak up about it. It would change the whole conversation. Because when you bring somebody who doesn’t have to be a part of [the] conversation making himself vulnerable in front of it, I think when that happens, things will really take a jump.”

White NFL players tend to skew conservative, there are some who have spoken out on social issues, such as Connor Barwin, who is a supporter of gay rights.

Kaepernick has yet to find a new team after leaving the San Francisco 49ers earlier this year, and Bennett said many players fear joining in the protest would expose them to similar risks. “[Kaepernick] had to sacrifice,” Bennett said. “He spoke up and dealt with a lot of things that were going on, from death threats, people not wanting him in the stadium, people hating him. I think a lot of players were scared of that. Then on top of that, players feeling like he was being blackballed, people were eventually scared.

“But now, just because he’s out of the league, we didn’t want to lose that message, pushing for liberty and equality for everybody, we just wanted to keep that message alive.”

The 49ers’ general manager John Lynch, who was not with the team during Kaepernick’s protest, said on Wednesday that the protests are “divisive” – although he supports players’ right to do what they think is right.

“I think this game brings people together. So I think personally when I see that, I think that’s divisive. And I understand guys see things and they’re not happy. They have that right. And I think we’ll always respect people’s rights. That doesn’t mean I believe that. I believe this game should be celebrated for what it is. I think [it’s] a tremendous unifier for our country and for the way things should be.”

Bennett has a different opinion. Some believe the protests disrespect the military, but Bennett says that is not the case. “People make this divide, like I’m trying to disrespect the military,” said Bennett, whose father served in the military. “And they come to me and say this is what they’re fighting for. It just touched my heart.”

Bennett says he intends to continue his protest for the entire NFL season.