Pictures: Getty
NFL quarterback Drew Brees has now spoken directly to US President Donald Trump in the dispute over national symbols and statements about protests by football players during the anthem.
Through his conversations with friends, colleagues and leaders of the black community, he realized that “this is not about the American flag,” Drew Brees wrote on Friday on Instagram. “We can no longer use the flag to reject people or to distract them from the real problems our black communities are facing.”
Trump had previously criticized the NFL quarterback for withdrawing his controversial statements about football player protests during the anthem. “I think he’s really one of the biggest quarterbacks, but he shouldn’t have taken back his original stance on honoring our beautiful American flag,” Trump tweeted.
… We should be standing up straight and tall, ideally with a salute, or a hand on heart. There are other things you can protest, but not our Great American Flag – NO KNEELING!
– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2020
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The 41-year-old Brees, the sporting undisputed playmaker at the New Orleans Saints, had criticized the protests of NFL player Colin Kaepernick in an interview. In the 2016/17 season, among other things, he went on his knees to protest racism and police violence in the USA while playing the national anthem. “I will never agree with anyone who is disrespectful of the flag of the United States or our country,” Brees said. After the massive criticism of his statements, Brees apologized in writing and then in a video.
Now, after Trump’s criticism via Instagram, he added that in 2017 the debate about the flag had distracted from the real problems. Regrettably, he picked it up again this week with his comments. “We have to stop talking about the flag and pay attention to the real problems of systematic racial injustice, economic oppression, police brutality and judicial and prison reform. We are at a critical point in our nation’s history! If not now then when?”
Brees added that the white community must listen and learn from the pain and suffering of the black communities. “We have to recognize the problems, find solutions and then put them into practice. The black community cannot do this alone. This will require us all. »
Check out this post on Instagram
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To @realdonaldtrump Through my ongoing conversations with friends, teammates, and leaders in the black community, I realize this is not an issue about the American flag. It has never been. We can no longer use the flag to turn people away or distract them from the real issues that face our black communities. We did this back in 2017, and regretfully I brought it back with my comments this week. We must stop talking about the flag and shift our attention to the real issues of systemic racial injustice, economic oppression, police brutality, and judicial & prison reform. We are at a critical juncture in our nation’s history! If not now, then when? We as a white community need to listen and learn from the pain and suffering of our black communities. We must acknowledge the problems, identify the solutions, and then put this into action. The black community cannot do it alone. This will require all of us.
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