During his playing days and afterward, former Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown was a social justice activist and champion for civil rights, going so far as to found the Black Economic Union in the ‘60s and Amer-I-Can in the ‘80s.
In recent times though, Brown has seemed somewhat conservative, going so far as to take the side of President Trump when he was feuding with civil rights icon John Lewis.
NFL Legend Jim Brown: When I hear John Lewis cry the blues about Donald Trump, I take offense to that https://t.co/UHwqFFYCyz
— Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) January 18, 2017
On Tuesday, prior to the HBO premiere of Hard Knocks, Brown once again seemingly took Trump’s side in the anthem debate and went against what many current NFL players are doing.
“I’ll never kneel and I will always respect the flag,” Brown said. “I am not going to denigrate my flag and I’m going to stand for the national anthem. I’m fighting with all of my strength to make it a better country, but I don’t think that’s the issue. Because what is the top side? Are you not going to stand up? This is our country, man.”
The 82-year-old said he respects players protesting, but they should be standing, not kneeling.
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