Concerned about the way race relations are going in America, a couple of Dolphins are stepping up and organizing a town hall to have a discussion about it.
The AP has the story about Dolphins safety Michael Thomas and linebacker Jelani Jenkins, who claim they both received death threats through social media following their national anthem protest.
The town hall with the players will include both police and youth leaders.
“It’s great a lot of people in our community, including our law enforcement, have the mindset of yes, there is something wrong,” Thomas said Wednesday. “Something needs to change, and we’re just looking for solutions and working together to find them.”
Thomas, Jenkins, running back Arian Foster and receiver Kenny Stills knelt together during the anthem at the Dolphins’ opener to protest social inequality. Reaction to the gesture by the four black players was mixed and sometimes ugly.
“Racism is alive and well — ‘You should go back to Africa,’ or the n word,” Thomas said. “That doesn’t matter. I know what I’m standing for is right.”
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began the anthem protest that other NFL players have since joined. He said he also received death threats.
Jenkins said he won’t kneel during Sunday’s game against Cleveland and wants to move the conversation about race relations in a more positive direction, which the town hall helped to do.
“We all want to focus on solutions and actual actions to make actual change,” Jenkins said. “The protests, if you want to call it that, are kind of on the back burner. We want to reach out and get into the community with police officers and youth and do everything we can to create a great environment in our community.”
The town hall took place in the Dolphins’ team meeting room with the support of the organization and RISE (The Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality), a nonprofit organization founded by team owner Stephen Ross to promote understanding, respect and equality.
September 25th, 2016 
Matt Loede 
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