NFL Fans Disregard Social Justice Issues at Hand

On September 10th, the opening night for the 2020-21 NFL season, Kansas City Chiefs fans booed players during a moment of silence “dedicated to the ongoing fight for equality.”

The moment of silence took place after the playing of the National Anthem and the newly added “Lift Every Voice,” where players and coaches gathered and linked arms at the center of the field at Arrowhead Stadium. It was organized by the quarterbacks of both teams, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans, and was intended to be a moment of unity. 

The Chiefs were one of only two teams to have 20% of their usual fan capacity.  According to NBC News, “significant portions” of the 16,000 fans in attendance participated in the booing.  

Social justice issues have been at the forefront of the minds of players and coaches this past offseason, ever since the video of George Floyd’s murder surfaced back in August of 2020. When the NFL announced their plan to return, many fans understood that the upcoming season would have a central focus on social injustice, as it has been with many other professional sports. 

People’s main focus was around the National Anthem and whether or not players would kneel and how the fans would react. However, this moment wasn’t tied to the anthem, and thus cannot be tied to any potential disrespect towards the flag or veterans. So it begs the question: Was the backlash around players kneeling really about the National Anthem? 

After the moment occurred, fans took to social media to express their opinion. According to NBC News, Kansas City Star sports columnist Vahe Gregorian wrote that “the derision spoke volumes, betraying the city and team in both senses of the word… and it revealed anew that an appeal for equality is offensive to some even during this great awakening and reckoning.” Even though this moment is frustrating and shocking for many, recognizing how much work still needs to be done in the fight for equality is a very important part of the process.