Ron Rivera will support Redskins players kneeling during anthem

June 10, 2020

Last week, Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson stated “without a doubt” he planned to kneel during the national anthem in protest of police brutality and racial injustice. If he does so, his head coach, Ron Rivera, will support.

Rivera told local reporters Wednesday during a Zoom conference, he will support Peterson and any other players who choose to kneel during the national anthem. He added he understands it’s a protest against police brutality and not about the military or patriotism.

Ron Rivera emphasizes that kneeling during the anthem is a protest against police brutality, not a protest against the military, and that soldiers fight to preserve the right to peaceful protest. He has no problem with his players doing it.
— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) June 10, 2020

Rivera said he was fortunate to be around safety Eric Reid with the Carolina Panthers. Reid, who protested by taking a knee during the anthem with Colin Kaepernick while with the San Francisco 49ers, got Rivera to understand why he was protesting.

Rivera explained that Reid made it apparent the protest isn't about the military, it isn't about the first responders, it's about social justice and Rivera is completely supportive of that. So as far as Adrian Peterson kneeling during the anthem, he's supporting his players #HTTR
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) June 10, 2020

Ron Rivera kept a copy of the Constitution on his desk in Carolina after the team signed Eric Reid, with the First Amendment highlighted. He also kept a quote on his bulletin board that said “Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president.” https://t.co/9WyyLoOx5r
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) June 10, 2020

Back in 2016 when Kaepernick and Reid spearheaded the protest, NFL players were met with pushback from President Donald Trump and owners. Their protest was deemed unpopular among NFL fans. However, there has been a shift thinking and empathy towards the protest in the wake of the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor among others.

Their deaths have sparked outrage and protests around the country and world. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell admitted the league was wrong for not backing the players’ decision to kneel. There has been little word from league owners. But, it appears the league is softening their stance against the players’ choice of protest.

Ron Rivera’s support will at least encourage Peterson and Redskins players to feel comfortable to protest this upcoming season.