Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin wants unity
Sunday 16 October 2016 14:29, UK
Following the protest of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, NFL players have spoken out on both sides of the social justice argument.
Kaepernick, who kneels during the national anthem before each game, has sparked a debate on the treatment of minorities in America. While some support his cause, as well as his right to protest, others have criticised the move as unpatriotic and disrespectful.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin supports Kaepernick's protests, and the involvement of others willing to stand up and have their say.
"There's a lot of things going on in our communities that shouldn't be happening, and that's basically what the message is. And we need to change that.
"The only way we can change things is sitting down and having a conversation with each other about how to change those things."
The Seahawks players and coaching staff have linked arms during the anthem as a means of promoting unity and togetherness, aiming to build bridges with community law enforcement.
Baldwin doesn't shy away from the platform being a professional athlete has given him. His opinion suggests that NFL players, as role models, have a greater sphere of influence than politicians and that should be taken seriously as a responsibility.
"Kids today might not hear what Barack Obama has to say, or what political figures have to say, but they love their athletes, so the voice that we have is very powerful in reaching the younger generation.
"We can let them know that there are things that need to be changed, and hopefully they can change them. The conversation has been started, people are hearing us and now they're listening."
Last month Baldwin's team mate, cornerback Richard Sherman, used his press conference to address the issue of social justice as a national issue.
"I think you have players that are trying to take a stand and trying to be aware of social issue and try to make a stand and increase people's awareness and put a spotlight on it and they're being ignored. Whether they're taking a knee or whether they're locking arms, they're trying to bring people together and unite them for a cause.
"The reason these guys are kneeling, 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."
The Seahawks are trying to promote Kaepernick's message in a different way. Though the 49ers QB now has much support throughout the league, he cut an isolated figure as others weighed up his viewpoint and how best to respond.
In Seattle, the decision to link arms was a team-led one, which they hope will be interpreted in the right way: building bridges for a stronger community.
Watch the Seahawks take on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday October 16, from 9pm on Sky Sports 2.
