Malcolm Jenkins: White House Lied to Make Players Look 'Anti-America, Anti-Flag and Anti-Military'
Malcolm Jenkins has been one of the most outspoken in the NFL on social issues since players started protesting police brutality and racial injustice by making demonstrations during the national anthem.
On Tuesday, the Eagles safety released a lengthy statement in response to the White House disinviting the Super Bowl LII champions from their visit that was scheduled for the same day.
In his statement, Jenkins addresses the efforts taken by himself and others around the league to help improve their communities such as Chris Long donating his entire salary from 2017 and meetings players have had "with police departments, elected officials and community advocates around the country."
Jenkins also discussed how Donald Trump mentioned the way the Eagles stand for the national anthem as part of his reason for disinviting the team. Jenkins said the White House decided to lie and "paint the picture that these players are anti-America, anti-flag and anti-military." Jenkins also made sure to clarify that none of the Eagles kneeled for the anthem during the regular season or postseason in 2017.
Read Jenkins's full statement below:
It's hard to step out in the public and fight to make it better.
It's hard to meet with people who don't agree with you and to have tough conversations about uncomfortable race-related issues and how to make a positive change.
It takes empathy and time to listen to other's experiences that may be different than your own.
It takes courage to stand up for the TRUTH even if it's not a popular one.
This is what my colleagues and I have been facing for the past two years. Players have met with police departments, elected officials and community advocates around the country.
Chris Long played for free last year and donated his entire salary to charity.
We've fed the hungry, we've mentored our youth, we've fought to create opportunities for communities and individuals who have been disenfranchised, we've given scholarships, and the list goes on.
We've done all of this while still climbing to win the highest esteem in our profession. We are athletes, but as citizens, we are doing everything in our power to make our communities better. This is the hard, but, right thing to do.
It's not our job. No one elected us to do this. We do it because we love this country and our communities. Everyone, regardless of race or socioeconomic status, deserves to be treated equally. We are fighting for racial and social equality.
Simply google: "How many Philadelphia Eagles knelt during the national anthem last season?" and you find that the answer is zero. A similar google search will show you how many great things the players on this team are doing and continue to do on a daily basis.
Instead, the decision was made to lie, and paint the picture that these players are anti-America, anti-flag and anti-military.
On Monday, former Eagle Torrey Smith made similarcomments about how the Eagles' efforts had been inaccurately portrayed and that the White House was lying in its statements.
