Protest clearly articulated

Our poor Coach Leach is baffled about why thousands of athletes are expressing themselves, e.g., by taking the knee during the national anthem. Leach said in a televised interview, “I haven’t gotten a real clear articulation of what’s being protested or what’s being objected to.”

Is he simply reflecting ultra-right wing obliviousness to the racial inequality in this country? Not all right wingers are as obtuse about our societal problems. Even Jerry Jones, also a Trump supporter, understands the protests.

Sports figures are at the forefront of the protests today. Coach Leach could pay attention as to why athletes are up in arms. Here is a quote from one of Colin Kaepernick’s former teammates, Eric Reid, on the 49ers:

We [Colin and I] spoke at length about many of the issues that face our community, including the systemic oppression against people of color, police brutality and the criminal justice system. We also discussed how we could use our platform, provided to us by being professional athletes in the N.F.L., to speak for those who are voiceless. (New York Times oped, Sept. 25, by Eric Reid)

This is certainly “clear articulation.”

Nicolas Kiessling

Pullman