Malcolm Jenkins believes he has done his part to raise awareness of racial injustices and inequality enough to end his raised-fist demonstration during the national anthem.
The Eagles cornerback told reporters Thursday he would not raise his fist during the playing of the "Star-Spangled Banner" prior to Sunday's game against the Seahawks.
I don’t anticipate demonstrating this week simply because I felt like when I started demonstrating, my whole motivation was to draw awareness to disenfranchised people, communities of color, injustices around the country, our criminal justice system," Jenkins said, via the Philadelphia Inquirer. "And obviously through this year and talking with the league and what they’ve kind of proposed, I feel like has presented a bigger and better platform to continue to raise that awareness and continue to [influence] positive change."
Jenkins told Omnisport last month he needed the social landscape, especially within the league, to change in order to end his protest.
"There are things guys have been working on and talking with the league about how we can amplify the voices of the players to draw attention to the injustices and issues of equality that we’re trying to highlight — help us with solutions and try to make our communities better," Jenkins said following the Eagles' win over the Panthers on Oct. 12. "So, if that gets accomplished, we can move on."
Jenkins is one of the leaders on the Players Coalition, a group of player reps who have met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to address social issues. The NFL and the Players Coalition reached an agreement on Wednesday for the league to pledge $89 million toward social justice causes supported by players.
Jenkins helped form the coalition with now-retired receiver Anquan Boldin, who believes the new agreement with the league provides the necessary incentives for players to discontinue certain demonstrations during the playing of the anthem. Dolphins safety Michael Thomas and 49ers safety Eric Reid disagree and withdrew from the coalition because they don't think the agreement reached Wednesday best serves the interests of the players.
The Eagles cornerback told reporters Thursday he would not raise his fist during the playing of the "Star-Spangled Banner" prior to Sunday's game against the Seahawks.
I don’t anticipate demonstrating this week simply because I felt like when I started demonstrating, my whole motivation was to draw awareness to disenfranchised people, communities of color, injustices around the country, our criminal justice system," Jenkins said, via the Philadelphia Inquirer. "And obviously through this year and talking with the league and what they’ve kind of proposed, I feel like has presented a bigger and better platform to continue to raise that awareness and continue to [influence] positive change."
Jenkins told Omnisport last month he needed the social landscape, especially within the league, to change in order to end his protest.
"There are things guys have been working on and talking with the league about how we can amplify the voices of the players to draw attention to the injustices and issues of equality that we’re trying to highlight — help us with solutions and try to make our communities better," Jenkins said following the Eagles' win over the Panthers on Oct. 12. "So, if that gets accomplished, we can move on."
Jenkins is one of the leaders on the Players Coalition, a group of player reps who have met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to address social issues. The NFL and the Players Coalition reached an agreement on Wednesday for the league to pledge $89 million toward social justice causes supported by players.
Jenkins helped form the coalition with now-retired receiver Anquan Boldin, who believes the new agreement with the league provides the necessary incentives for players to discontinue certain demonstrations during the playing of the anthem. Dolphins safety Michael Thomas and 49ers safety Eric Reid disagree and withdrew from the coalition because they don't think the agreement reached Wednesday best serves the interests of the players.
