Seattle Seahawks star Richard Sherman refused to answer questions from the media at a press conference this week ahead of Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, because “people are still missing the point” of NFL players’ national anthem protest, sparked by Colin Kaepernick.
“The reason these guys are kneeling, and the reason we’re locking arms is to bring people together, to make people aware that this is not right. It’s not right for people to get killed in the street,” Sherman said.
Sherman also pointed out that “the last couple of days a couple more guys have gotten shot and killed in the middle of the street.” His comments came hours before violent protests erupted in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the second straight evening over the shooting death of a Keith Lamont Scott.
Sherman said that it’s difficult to explain to kids that the police could shoot them.
“And I think that’s the unfortunate part, that’s the unfortunate place that we’re living in. And something needs to be done. And so when a guy takes a knee, you can ignore it. You can say he’s not being patriotic, he’s not honoring the flag. I’m doing none of those things. I’m saying it straight up. This is wrong and we need to do something,” Sherman said before thanking the reporters.
Watch the video below.
Video: Richard Sherman takes no questions, sounds fed up with society today. Says statements being ignored. #Seahawks pic.twitter.com/B0iPkgqENc
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) September 21, 2016