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NFL players' uniforms to honour victims of police violence and racism

Players in the NFL will be invited to honour victims of police violence and systemic racism on th...



NFL players' uniforms to honou...
American Football

NFL players' uniforms to honour victims of police violence and racism

Players in the NFL will be invited to honour victims of police violence and systemic racism on their uniforms. 

The new NFL season is due to begin on September 10. 

When it does, names like George Floyd, Tamir Rice and Breonna Taylor could adorn players' helmets.

The move is the latest in the league finally recognising the impact of abuse suffered by people of colour in the United States.

In May of this year, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

"The NFL family is greatly saddened by the tragic events across our country," Goodell said.

"The protesters' reactions to these incidents reflect the pain, anger and frustration that so many of us feel."

The statement resulted in Goodell being accused of hypocrisy in some quarters, given how he and the NFL handled the Colin Kaepernick situation in 2016.

The former San Francisco 49ers quarter-back began taking a knee during the American anthem in protest at police violence against black people.

Kaepernick - now 32 - has been effectively blackballed from the NFL for the past three years.

Similar 'taking a knee' protests have been stifled, with the league requesting that players remain in their dressing rooms if they wish to take action.

However, Goodell's words have been part of a larger movement towards change in the league.

The Washington franchise has finally ditched the racist 'Redskins' element of its name, and will be announcing new branding shortly.

The NFL also recently committed $250million (€218m) over a 10-year period to combat systemic racism.

And the previously sacrosanct player uniforms could soon pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in America just because of the colour of their skin.

It's reported that the league is working with the NFL Players Association to compile a list of names to be honoured before the start of the regular season.

Names or initials of victims of police violence and systemic racism will appear as decals on players helmets.

Players will have the choice whether or not to partake in the exercise.

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#BlackLivesMatter Black Lives Matter Breonna Taylor Colin Kaepernick George Floyd NFL Roger Goodell Tamir Rice