"Kraft attempted to broker peace between the ownership hawks who saw the high-paid kneelers as ungrateful mutineers and, after decades of docility, the radicalized players unwilling to collect their checks in exchange for political silence. Kraft encouraged two of his players the twins Devin and Jason McCourty into deeper citizenship, to engage with the legal and political systems and promote reforms."
"Kraft visited the incarcerated rapper Meek Mill, and later the two partnered with another artist, Jay-Z, on various criminal justice initiatives. On 6 January 2021, when so many of the voices loudest in their opposition to player protests, the ones who said the dissenting ballplayers were treasonous for disrespecting both the American flag and law enforcement at the behest of outgoing president Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol and contributed to the deaths of one policeman"
Philando Castile and Alton Sterling were killed by police a decade ago, and Colin Kaepernick took a knee in protest. A widespread reaction labeled accomplished, overwhelmingly Black professional athletes un-American or well-paid farmhands, and some owners released players as punishment for protesting. Robert Kraft positioned himself as a voice of reason, brokering peace between hawkish owners and radicalized players refusing political silence. Kraft urged twins Devin and Jason McCourty into deeper civic engagement and promoted criminal-justice reforms, visiting Meek Mill and partnering with Jay-Z on initiatives. After the 6 January 2021 Capitol attack Kraft publicly distanced himself from Donald Trump. Five years later, athletic political voice has been largely muted as the landscape feels less principled.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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