Detroit Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin headed to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday to discuss police brutality and issues related to race with members of Congress, according to ESPN. The trip included a meeting with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.
Anquan Boldin and 4 other NFL players meet with members of Congress to discuss police brutality and race
Boldin and his NFL colleagues are on Capitol Hill to tackle these topics with members of Congress.
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
Boldin invited his teammate, safety Glover Quin, as well as Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins, and Browns quarterback Josh McCown. Boldin chose these players because they are “all guys who are well-respected in the league and who have the same goal as myself,” according to ESPN’s Jim Trotter.
The group will met with Reps. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla.; Keith Ellison, D-Minn.; and Daniel Webster, R-Fla. Boldin and his colleagues will also spend time with members of the Congressional Black Caucus. A spokesperson for Speaker Ryan confirmed to SB Nation that his office will have a “staff-level meeting” with the players.
Murphy said via his Twitter account that he is “honored to meet with several NFL players who share my commitment to increasing trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
Boldin’s cousin, Corey Jones, was shot and killed by police last year while waiting for roadside assistance to arrive.
The purpose of these meetings, Boldin said, is to address the “huge mistrust” between the black community and law enforcement.
“I want to help close that gap,” Boldin said.
Jenkins joined Colin Kaepernick and others in protesting during the national anthem prior to games this season, and he said it’s imperative to use his voice to combat the ongoing oppression of black Americans.
“I think at this point now, if you have a strong opinion about these things, this is the time where you have to use your voice,” Jenkins said via Philadelphia Magazine. “Because otherwise, [laws] will get passed, things will come to pass, and if you don’t stand up now, you’re just going to have to live with it.”
McCown is the only white player involved, and he noted that white Americans have very different experiences, and that’s why it’s important to listen.
”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, McCown said. “But let’s just try to be a part of making it better moving forward.”
The meetings were arranged by Andrew Blejwas, who consults with NFL players to help them maximize their influence off the field. The NFLPA is working to organize meetings with Ryan and members of the White House staff, according to the report.
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