Denver Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall said players who knelt during the national anthem "tried to do things peacefully" to highlight awareness toward police violence and discrimination against black people.
Marshall told TMZ Sports that he understands why some protests to the death of George Floyd have turned violent because peaceful acts of protest have not resulted in change.
"I just think that people are fed up, which is why the violence has started," Marshall said. "I would never want to see anyone get hurt, but I see why. If you could understand the timeline, if you could understand the course of events that continues to happen, it’s only natural that happens.