For Seahawks’ Duane Brown, Minneapolis killing is why he, others have done anthem protests
Duane Brown has a platform many 30-something African-American men in our country do not.
As a star player in the NFL for much of the last decade, people know him and listen to what he has to say. That’s the popularity of sports in our society.
In the last few years, what Brown has had to say includes protesting with words and actions—such as a raised fist and kneeling during the national anthem at games—to raise awareness against police brutality, particularly against minorities in America.
The Seahawks’ Pro Bowl veteran left tackle was on a Zoom call online remotely with media members Wednesday morning. It was less than 48 hours after a bystander’s video captured George Floyd, an unarmed and handcuffed black man, being pinned to a street by a Minneapolis police officer’s knee to his neck during an apprehension. Soon after, Floyd died.
One of Seattle’s best and highest-paid players sees no progress in 2020 from the reason he, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, ex-Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett and many other NFL players have protested during the national anthem at games since 2016.
“No,” Brown said, “not really.
“If you know the details of what happened (in Minneapolis), it’s a tragic situation. ...It’s just an awful situation—that could have been prevented.
“I feel like, someone called the cops on him for, potentially, writing a bad check. And he ended up dying, on camera, unarmed and in handcuffs. So, I mean, it seems like this continues to happen, every year, at some point.
“I don’t know when it will change.”
Brown spoke slowly, thoughtfully.
“It’s sad, man,” he said. “It’s sad.”
During the 2018 and ‘19 seasons, Brown and teammates Branden Jackson and Quinton Jefferson stayed inside the Seahawks’ locker room during the national anthem, then came onto the field to join the rest of the players just before the kickoffs of games.
The reason they’ve been doing that: killings such as Floyd’s in Minneapolis this week.
“I don’t really know what else to say about it,” Brown said. “It’s been happening for a long time.
“We’ll see what transpires from it.”
Floyd, 46, was arrested Monday evening in downtown Minneapolis. Officers had responded to a call about an alleged forgery in progress. Video from bystanders along a street shows Floyd handcuffed and pinned to the pavement, with one officer’s knee pressed against Floyd’s neck. Floyd said he was in pain and could not breathe. Soon after the incident he was declared dead at a hospital.
Minneapolis police said Tuesday it fired four officers involved in the incident, which has attracted national attention and outrage. Those who lost their jobs include Derek Chauvin, the police officer seen on the video pinning down Floyd with his knee, Chauvin’s attorney Tom Kelly said.
Masses of people walked in Minneapolis Tuesday night to protest Floyd’s death.
This story was originally published May 27, 2020 at 11:16 AM.
