A few members of the Philadelphia Eagles are already stating they won’t take part in the traditional White House visit to celebrate the team’s Super Bowl championship.
Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins told CNN on Monday that he intends to skip any championship celebration at the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Nah, I personally do not anticipate attending,” Jenkins said on CNN’s New Day.
Jenkins, who raised his fist during the U.S. National Anthem this past season, has been one of the more outspoken NFL players on Trump and the anthem protests.
“My message has been clear all year. I’m about creating positive change in the communities that I come from,” Jenkins added. “I want to see changes in our criminal justice system. I want to see us push for economical and education advancement in communities of colour and low-income communities. I want to see our relationships between our communities and law enforcement be advanced. That’s what myself and my peers have been pushing for the last two years.”
Jenkins’s Eagles teammates Torrey Smith and Chris Long also indicated they won’t attend the White House visit because of their opposition to Trump, CNN reports.
Before the Super Bowl on Sunday, Trump released a statement thanking the U.S. Armed Forces for their contributions and referenced the anthem protests. After the game, he took to social media to congratulate the Eagles on their historic victory.
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