When Carolina signed Eric Reid, a veteran safety who was one of the first NFL players to join Colin Kaepernick in taking a knee during the national anthem, then-Panthers coach Ron Rivera says he took the time to read the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and all the amendments.
He read the historic documents again last week after Redskins running back Adrian Peterson told reporters that he plans to take a knee before games next season in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
The Redskins coach, who grew up in a military family, said the documents remind us that Americans — including NFL players — have the right to protest.
“It’s their choice, their decision,” Rivera said. “I support it because it’s in our Constitution. That’s what our military personnel fought for, for our rights, for our sake.”
As the NFL grapples with the possibility of a resurgence of player protests next season, Rivera said Wednesday he will support any player who plans to take a knee during the national anthem.
So far, Peterson is the only Redskins player to commit to kneeling. Returning starting quarterback Dwayne Haskins said Wednesday he was undecided if he would take a knee, but added he supported his teammate’s decision to do so.
Haskins praised Rivera for his response to Floyd’s death.
“I really applaud him for that and his confidence being able to stand with us,” Haskins said. He definitely wants to make a change as well, he wants to continue to work on being a united team and trying to be a difference in our community having played for the Washington Redskins and being in D.C.”
Rivera’s comments came during a video teleconference with reporters during which he unveiled a series of programs, from town halls to a $250,000 donation from owner Dan Snyder to fund community initiatives, that the Redskins are taking in response to the wave of civil unrest that has swept the nation over police brutality.
Rivera condemned the police killing of Floyd in Minneapolis last month. “A man sworn to protect us, protect our community murdered George Floyd in the streets of Minneapolis,” Rivera said, referencing Derek Chauvin, the white police officer charged in Floyd’s death after video captured him kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes.
The coach said he was proud of players like Haskins and Chase Young for taking a stand. Haskins attended rallies in D.C. over the weekend, while Young took part in a call-to-action video that demanded the NFL condemn racism.
“Black lives do matter,” Rivera said. “It doesn’t get said enough, so I’ll say it again: Black lives do matter.”
Rivera said he understands players taking a knee during the national anthem isn’t about disrespecting the military, the country or the flag. It’s about police brutality and social injustice, he said.
Rivera said he realized that two years ago when a conversation with Reid turned out to be an “eye-opener for me, personally.
“He helped me truly understand what the protests were about,” Rivera said of Reid. “I was fine it.”
As an organization, the Redskins want to help make a difference, the 58-year-old coach said. The team will hold town hall meetings for employees to share experiences and brainstorm ways to “make our community safe for people of color.”
The panels will be led by executive Doug Williams and five others, including assistant coach Jennifer King, a former police officer.
The Redskins will also create a “black engagement network,” a program designed to help black employees advance further in the workplace. And owner Dany Snyder will donate $250,000 to help fund further ideas the team comes up with.
Rivera said he wants to be a part of real changes — words alone, he said, are no longer enough.
“I want to make sure people understand that we, that I, support the Black Lives Matter movement,” Rivera said. “I want to listen to our players and listen to our employees and coaches and make sure we get this right. This is very important.”
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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