After their historic Super Bowl victory, several Philadelphia Eagles players have decided to skip the traditional White House visit, citing their opposition to President Trump’s comments on race relations and athlete protests during the national anthem.
Malcolm Jenkins, Torrey Smith, Chris Long, and LeGarrette Blount are among the players who have made it clear that they will not be attending the White House ceremony. Jenkins, who leads the Player’s Coalition, expressed his decision on CNN, while Smith emphasized that their actions are not a protest against the anthem itself, but a demonstration for racial equality and justice.
Chris Long, who also skipped the White House visit last year as a member of the New England Patriots, reiterated his decision to opt out of this year’s visit. LeGarrette Blount, who previously chose not to attend the event, cited feeling unwelcome in the White House as his reason for skipping.
The players’ choice to forego the White House visit highlights the intersection of sports, politics, and social activism in today’s climate. As debates surrounding athlete protests and political engagement continue, the Eagles players’ decision sends a powerful message about standing up for their beliefs and values.
Attribution:
This article was summarized and republished from the original source.
Please check the original article here: https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/06/politics/players-skip-white-house-visit-list-trnd/index.html.