Kansas City cornerback Marcus Peters raised a black-gloved fist during the national anthem before the NFL opener against San Diego, backing up his promise to show support for protests started by Colin Kaepernick.
It was the only such gesture visible throughout the early games Sunday, as the anthems took on more significance because of the 15th anniversary of Sept. 11 attacks. The Seattle Seahawks said last week they planned a demonstration of “unity” when their game against Miami kicks off Sunday afternoon.
READ MORE: Obama says Colin Kaepernick ‘exercising constitutional right’ with protests
Several teams, including the Chiefs, saw their players link arms during the anthem. Peters, the 2015 Defensive Rookie of the Year, was the last person in the Chiefs’ line and had his arm free to raise it.
Peters said he was “100 per cent behind” Kaepernick, who chose to sit and take a knee during the anthem in preseason games to call attention to what he termed the oppression of blacks and other minorities.
“He spoke up about something he felt he needed to speak up about,” Peters said. “I salute him for that.”
Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall , a teammate of Kaepernick’s in college at Nevada, took a knee during the anthem on Thursday night.
READ MORE: Broncos player kneels in support of Kaepernick during anthem of NFL season opener
Peters’ gesture was also a tribute of sorts to U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who won the gold and bronze medals, respectively, in the 200-meter race at the 1968 Olympics. Both then appeared on the medal stands with raised, black-gloved fists throughout the U.S. national anthem in what they called a “human rights salute.”
The International Olympic Committee ordered Smith and Carlos expelled from the games because of the protest.
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