Back to the Washington Commanders Newsfeed

Activism is OK, as long as you're not talking about race

ANALYSIS/OPINION

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh are among the athletes and coaches who said the following in a public service announcement for a nonprofit organization:

“I pledge to treat everyone with respect and dignity. I will not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind. I will speak up whenever I know discrimination is happening and I will stand up for victims.”

Speaking up and standing up — or in Colin Kaepernick’s case, taking a knee — are entry-level forms of activism, defined by dictionary.com as “the doctrine or practice of vigorous action or involvement as a means of achieving political or other goals, sometimes by demonstrations, protests, etc.