49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision not to stand for the national anthem led to a lot of discussion around the NFL about issues related to race and police brutality and what players can do to take a more active role in addressing them.
That effort is going to go to Washington D.C. on Wednesday. Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin and safety Glover Quin; Browns quarterback Josh McCown and wide receiver Andrew Hawkins; and Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins will meet with members of the United States House of Representatives.
Boldin said, via Jim Trotter of ESPN, that the group wants to “help close [the] gap” that’s led to “huge mistrust” between law enforcement and African-American communities. McCown, the lone white player involved in the meetings, said that he hopes the meetings create a greater understanding of what different groups are going through.
“I don’t believe we, as white people, can understand what African-Americans go through on a daily basis, because it’s different,” McCown said. “For me, first and foremost, I want to be able to acknowledge that, and say that our stories are different and our histories are different, but let’s just try to be a part of making it better moving forward.”
The players are scheduled to meet with Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn), Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla), Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Fla) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus. ESPN reports that the NFLPA has also worked to set up meetings with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wis) and members of the White House Staff.