Players and staff alike from the Jacksonville Jaguars hosted a peaceful march at their stadium Friday morning. The march began on the grounds of TIAA Bank Field at 9:04, the area code of Jacksonville.
The protest is just one of hundreds that have gone on across the country over the last week.
The Jaguars are one of the first professional teams to host a protest march. Many athletes have been out in the streets alongside protestors, but Jacksonville took things one step further, inviting protestors to stand alongside them in unity.
The @Jaguars players, staff, coaches making their way toward @JSOPIO – Led by most tenured Jags player @JUSTAB3 and also here is Myles Jack and @JoshAllen41_ plus former Jags player @DenardX @ActionSportsJax @ActionNewsJax @ESPN690Jax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/HM5bTGi7ME
— Brent Martineau (@BrentASJax) June 5, 2020
Jacksonville Jaguars Players, Staff Hold Peaceful Protest March
This march is coming off the heels of owner Shad Khan’s op-ed, calling for justice. “Racism, in all its forms, will kill,” Khan said in his letter. “It kills people, it kills communities, it kills dreams, it kills hope.”
Many active and former players have been spotted at the protest this morning. According to John Shipley from Sports Illustrated, over a dozen current members of the Jaguars are marching, including wide receivers DJ Chark and Chris Conley, and defensive end Josh Allen.
“I encourage you not to learn our nation’s true history because it makes you comfortable,” Conley said, addressing a crowd on the steps of the Jacksonville sheriff’s office. “I encourage you to do so because it can empower… This is only the beginning here in Jacksonville.”
Part of #Jaguars’ Chris Conley’s address #BLM @FCN2go #NFL pic.twitter.com/vVma75dsm8
— Mia O'Brien (@MiaOBrienTV) June 5, 2020
The former players in attendance included former running back Denard Robinson and former wide receiver Ernest Wilford. Wilford is currently serving as a member of the Jacksonville police force. He asked all protestors to take a knee in silence for one minute before the speeches at the sheriff’s office got underway.
Head coach Doug Marrone, GM Dave Caldwell and much of the coaching staff were also in attendance. Running back coach Terry Robiskie gave a very heartfelt speech.
““I have never felt this type of support from an organization during my 43 years in the NFL,” Robiskie said. “Let’s stick together and let’s stand together. F the rest of it.”
Some players, such as quarterback Gardner Minshew and linebacker Joe Schobert, were not able to attend today’s event. They still showed their support in the form of videos of encouragement. The Jaguars social media team then tweeted out the videos.
“While I can’t be with my brothers today as they march in Jacksonville, just know that I’m with them in thoughts, prayers and soon-to-be action,” Minshew said. “I’m excited to see what this organization, what this team is going to do, and more than anything I’m excited to be a part of it.”
Head coach Doug Marrone was emotional during his interview with reporters, saying “that’s the damn battle we need to win. The battle against racism.”
#Jaguars HC Doug Marrone: “this is only the beginning” pic.twitter.com/vJKXDNMTcU
— Demetrius Harvey (@Demetrius82) June 5, 2020
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
