Five NFL players met with Congress to discuss race and police brutality
Capitol Hill welcomed five professional football players to discuss police brutality and race issues with members of Congress on Tuesday.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin set up meetings in Washington D.C. and invited the four other NFL players to join him. The group included Lions safety Glover Quin, Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown and wide receiver Andrew Hawkins.
This trip came after months of national anthem protests in the NFL that sparked discussion about issues related to race and police brutality. The five men all have a similar goal -- to take a more active role in addressing these issues.
Boldin told ESPN that there's a "huge mistrust" between African American communities and law enforcement. Just last year, his cousin was fatally shot by a police officer as he waited for a tow truck on a Florida highway.
"I don't believe we, as white people, can understand what African-Americans go through on a daily basis, because it's different," McCown said. "For me, first and foremost, I want to be able to acknowledge that, and say that our stories are different and our histories are different, but let's just try to be a part of making it better moving forward.
Jenkins, who participated in the national anthem protests, said now is "the time where you have to use your voice."
"Quite frankly, a lot guys don't care about this topic, or aren't passionate enough to go out and do the work," he said.
According to NBC Sports, the men met with three representatives and members of the Congressional Black Caucus. ESPN reported that the NFLPA also worked to set up meetings with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and members of the White House Staff.
