Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall received some support as well as quite a bit of heat when he decided to take a knee during the national anthem for the Broncos first game against the Panthers. He explained his stance and made it clear he is not anti-police or anti-military and that he has multiple family members affiliated with the armed forces. This week he took things a step further after meeting with the Denver police chief.
@IamJoeSports
After meeting with Chief White of the Denver police, Marshall has agreed to donate $300 per tackle this season to Denver charities and programs. That amount can wind up adding very nicely since last year he finished with 102 tackles.
Marshall has handled this entire situation with nothing but class and dignity, despite the fact that he’s been on the receiving end of countless racist messages and hateful statements in general. He took to his Instagram account to explain his decision.
On Thursday, Sept. 8, I took a knee for the National Anthem to take a stand against social injustice. My intent was not to offend anyone but rather to simply raise awareness and create some dialogue toward affecting positive change in our communities.
In the last week, I’ve had a lot of productive conversations with people I respect, including Chief White of the Denver Police Department. I really appreciate all of them taking the time to listen to me and offer some insight and feedback on ways we can all make a difference.
I’ve also had a lot of time to personally reflect on important issues such as race and gender equality, the treatment of our military veterans, our relationship with law enforcement, educational opportunities for our youth, and many more. I recognize and applaud the significant progress that has been made in these areas made possible only through the hard work of so many dedicated leaders.
But, it’s clear there is so much more work to be done by all of us. Together, we all need to Stand Up for change.
This starts with me.
My work with the Rose Andom Center to stop domestic violence is fulfilling and close to my heart. But I need to do more.
I plan to be involved with several other organizations that benefit the Denver community and others through the services, awareness and funds they provide for these critical social issues. And I will donate 300 dollars for every tackle I make this season to those programs.
You can track these contributions on social media through #TackleChange.
I’m truly grateful for the support I’ve received from so many people, especially my teammates. I look forward to preparing with them and focusing on an important game Sunday against the Colts.
This is a pretty nice move by Marshall after he promised to put his money where his mouth was and donate after the media surrounded him after the Broncos first game. Salute to him for trying to let his actions speak.
