NFL player plans to show Beto O’Rourke’s defense of kneeling to team owners

Los Angeles Chargers offensive lineman Russell Okung said that he plans to show a video of Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) defending NFL players’ on-field protests during a meeting with league executives and owners on Monday. 

“At today’s meeting between @NFLPA reps & @NFL execs/owners, I plan to share this viral video of @RepBetoORourke being asked if NFL players kneeling is disrespectful,” Okung, vice president of the NFL Players Association, tweeted.

At today’s meeting between @NFLPA reps & @NFL execs/owners, I plan to share this viral video of @RepBetoORourke being asked if NFL players kneeling is disrespectful. The tone he sets makes me proud to be a Texan & gives me hope that a productive dialogue is possible [THREAD] https://t.co/HZeALcmOR0

— Russell Okung (@RussellOkung) August 27, 2018

“The tone he sets makes me proud to be a Texan & gives me hope that a productive dialogue is possible.”

{mosads}His comments come after footage of O’Rourke, who is running to for a Texas Senate seat, defending players’ protests went viral last week.

Asked if players protesting during the national anthem was disrespectful, O’Rourke responded that he could “think of nothing more American” than peacefully protesting for a cause one feels strongly about. 

He added that the country’s problem in regards to police brutality is “not going to fix itself.”

“And they’re frustrated, frankly, with people like me and those in positions of public trust and power, who have been unable to resolve this or bring justice for what has been done and to stop it from continuing to happen in this country,” O’Rourke said. 

Okung praised O’Rourke’s statements, saying that the Senate hopeful was right when saying that players were “frustrated with those in positions of public trust & power who have been unable to resolve these issues.”

“I’m looking forward to today’s meeting in NYC,” Okung said. “I believe this face to face conversation is pivotal & will determine if meaningful progress will be made. Critically, I hope we can stop avoiding the conversation that @RepBetoORourke so eloquently encouraged us to have.”

The meeting between representatives from the NFL Players Association and NFL executives comes after a particularly controversial offseason for the league. 

I’m looking forward to today’s meeting in NYC. I believe this face to face conversation is pivotal & will determine if meaningful progress will be made. Critically, I hope we can stop avoiding the conversation that @RepBetoORourke so eloquently encouraged us to have. Stay tuned!

— Russell Okung (@RussellOkung) August 27, 2018

The league announced a policy earlier this year that would require players to stand during the anthem if they were on the field. The policy quickly drew backlash and the NFL eventually froze it in July after the NFL Players Association filed a grievance.

Many NFL players have continued their on-field protests during the national anthem during the league’s preseason schedule.