More than 40 players across NFL takes stand with Colin Kaepernick in powerful protests against racial inequality

BY LIAM QUINN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

More than 40 NFL players from 14 teams across the league have taken part in ongoing protests against racial injustice that were sparked by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick, who kicked the protests off by refusing to stand for the national anthem in the preseason, again took a knee during the Star Spangled Banner ahead of San Francisco’s game with Seattle.

The quarterback was joined on a knee by Eli Harold and Eric Reid, while teammates Antoine Bethea, Jaquiski Tartt, Rashard Robinson, Keith Reaser and Mike Davis raised their right fists.

Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, a teammate of Kaepernick’s in college, took a knee for the third straight game. Marshall, who has met with Denver police about his protest, has pledged to donate $300 for each tackle he makes this season to local charities.

Miami’s  Kenny Stills, Michael Thomas and running back Arian Foster knelt for the anthem again, which they have done throughout the season, while Los Angeles Rams star Robert Quinn held his fist in the air for the third week in a row.

However, in a sign the protest is spreading to other places, four Jacksonville Jaguars players – Dante Fowler Jr., Jared Odrick, Telvin Smith and Hayes Pullard – raised their right fists during the anthem.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was spotted during warm ups ahead of his game on Sunday wearing a shirt with a Dr Martin Luther King, Jr quote that read: ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’

Newton’s teammate,  Marcus Ball, stood with his hand raised during the anthem – as protests continued in Charlotte outside the arena where the Panthers hosted the Minnesota Vikings.

Elsewhere in the league, four Washington players protested during the national anthem – becoming the first players on the team to do so.

DeSean Jackson, Greg Toler, Rashad Ross and Niles Paul all raised their right fists before kickoff against the New York Giants.

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Antonio Cromartie took a knee during the anthem before his game with the San Diego Chargers, as Chargers players Joe Barksdale, Chris Hairston, Joshua Perry and offensive linemen King Dunlap and D.J. Fluker silently raised their fists in the air.

Ahead of the Oakland Raiders clash with the Tennessee Titans, multiple players from both teams made powerful statements by protesting during the anthem.

For the Raiders, Bruce Irvin and Malcolm Smith raised their fists in the air, while Jason McCourty, Jurrell Casey, Wesley Woodyard and DaQuan Jones did the same on the Titans sideline.

And for the Philadelphia Eagles, Malcolm Jenkins and cornerback Ron Brooks held an arm in the air during the anthem. They did the same thing in the Eagles’ last game against the Chicago Bears on Monday.

There appeared to be some backlash to the ongoing protests, with one fan seen holding a sign that read: ‘stand for the flag if you are an American.’

The demonstrations have garnered headlines throughout the opening month of the season, and have spread into other sports, including college football, where a group of Michigan State Spartans players held their fist up ahead of their game on Saturday.

Source: The DailyMail