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An overview on the people behind the NFL boycott

During the two weeks I've been away from the blog since my first post, a lot has happened regarding the topic of the NFL, Colin Kaepernick and the boycott.

A huge crowd swarmed NFL headquarters in New York City in support of Kaep organized by multiple civil rights groups.

Michael Bennett sat during the national anthem and said he would do so for the entire NFL season. Thirteen days later, the Seattle defensive star said he was subject to police brutality in Las Vegas after attending the Conor McGregor-Floyd Mayweather August 26.

A group of 10 Cleveland Browns players knelt during the anthem in a preseason game and the Cleveland police union is all salty about it.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told ESPN The Magazine's Mina Kimes that Colin Kaepernick "should be on a roster right now" and "I think because of his protests, he's not." Cam Newton said it's unfair Kaepernick isn't on a roster and is "better than some of these starting quarterbacks in this league."

I'm probably missing some more examples, but you catch my drift.

It's a lot.

Perhaps lost in the shuffle though, are the people willing to sacrifice their entertainment, time and even money to support a boycott of the NFL over Kaepernick being unemployed and blackballed by the league.

SB Nation, which is one of the best sports web sites/blog hosts out there in my opinion, has a piece by staff writer Tyler Tynes featuring the people behind the NFL boycott.

He highlights Kenny Johnson, the owner of the South Loop Chicago bars Bureau Bar and Velvet Lounge, Gerald Griggs, vice president of the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP, Vic Oyedeji of the #NoKaepernickNoNFL petition of Change.org, Huntsville, Ala. pastor Debleaire Snell of the NFL Black0ut group, Brooklyn Blew Smoke cigar lounge Gloria Blake from Brooklyn, NY and Los Angeles activist Najee Ali, who plans to do non-violent actions at Rams and Chargers games.

Each has their own way boycotting the NFL, with Johnson and Blake putting their businesses on the line to do what they think is the right thing. Here's a quote from the article from Johnson:

Are we going to take a hit? Yeah, we’ll take a hit,” Johnson said. “But it’s not about the money we could make, it’s about what’s right and what’s wrong. 

Blake added later in the SB Nation piece:
There’s a revelation of the state of this country that has come to a head and needs to be addressed. We can’t keep turning our back to the call for basic human rights,” she said.
“At this moment, being black is bigger than watching football. I can say that without hesitation.
Seriously, go read the piece if you're interested in how people are working on the ground level on this issue and how they are each sacrificing to make it known that Kaepernick getting blackballed, and why it matters that he doesn't have a spot on an NFL roster matters.

It's a dope piece by a dope and experienced, seasoned writer in Tynes. Check it out. https://www.sbnation.com/2017/9/7/16251532/nfl-anthem-protest-colin-kaepernick

Joey Baskerville; joey.baskerville@gmail.com

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