Seahawks' Bennett explains sitting out anthem

Aug 14, 2017 - 4:20 PM Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett refused to stand during the national anthem on Sunday -- a gesture he said was to raise awareness to racism and intolerance -- before his team's preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

Bennett said the violence in Charlottesville, Va., was a catalyst for his actions after white nationalists, neo-Nazis and Ku Klux Klan members holding a rally over the weekend clashed with counterprotesters in the streets and a car plowed into crowds, leaving a woman dead and more than 30 injured.

Bennett's position came a day after his former teammate, running back Marshawn Lynch, remained seated during the national anthem before the Oakland Raiders' preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday.

The 31-year-old Bennett told reporters after the Seahawks' 48-17 win over the Chargers that he intends to continue to sit during the national anthem.

"First of all, I want people to understand that I love the military," Bennett said. "My father's in the military. I love hot dogs like any other American. I love football like any other American. But I don't love segregation. I don't love riots or oppression.

"I just want to see people have the equality that they deserve. And I want to be able to use this platform to continuously push the message of that."

Bennett's Seahawks teammates and coaches were not aware of his plans, according to ESPN. He told reporters he took the position on his own. Coach Pete Carroll said he did not see Bennett sit and did not know that he would.

"I'm being vulnerable right now," Bennett said. "There's a whole bunch of people sitting at home judging me, but they will never get to this point where they can be vulnerable. Let people attack me because they don't believe what I believe in, but at the end of the day, I'm being vulnerable to show every person that no matter (what) you believe in, keep fighting for it. Keep fighting for equality. Keep fighting for oppressed people. And keep trying to change society."

Colin Kaepernick, formerly the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, became a flashpoint for debate last season, kneeling during the national anthem to bring attention to civil rights issues.

Kaepernick remains unsigned before the start of the 2017 regular season in part because of the stance he took as teams appear to be reluctant to take a chance because of the potential negative reaction.

Bennett spent time with Kaepernick during the offseason and wore a T-shirt supporting Kaepernick's "Know Your Rights" campaign during a spring news conference.

"I hope that I can activate everybody to get off their hands and feet and go out into the communities and push helping each other," Bennett said after Sunday's game. "Sit down with somebody that's the opposite sex, sit down with somebody that's the opposite race, different religion and understand that people are different and go out and join the community and try to change the society, change what you're a part of. If you don't like it, keep changing it."

The 6-foot-4, 274-pound Bennett played through injuries last season and missed five games, making five sacks and 34 tackles in 11 contests. Since joining the Seahawks in 2013, Bennett has racked up 30.5 sacks.