Ravens, Jaguars protest during national anthem in England

Sep 25, 2017 - 12:09 AM Players for the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars were joined by coaches and even a team owner in a demonstration of solidarity Sunday after President Donald Trump criticized pro athletes for not standing during the national anthem as a form of protest.

More poignantly, the display of unity was prior to the first game of the day and on foreign soil as the Ravens and Jaguars were preparing to play in London's Wembley Stadium.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan was on the sideline and locked arms with players. It was the first time an NFL owner participated in a protest during the national anthem. Khan previously donated $1 million to Trump's presidential campaign.

"It was a privilege to stand on the sidelines with the Jacksonville Jaguars today for the playing of the U.S. national anthem at Wembley Stadium," Khan said in a statement. "I met with our team captains prior to the game to express my support for them, all NFL players and the league following the divisive and contentious remarks made by President Trump, and was honored to be arm in arm with them, their teammates and our coaches during our anthem.

"Our team and the National Football League reflects our nation, with diversity coming in many forms -- race, faith, our views and our goals. We have a lot of work to do, and we can do it, but the comments by the President make it harder. That's why it was important for us, and personally for me, to show the world that even if we may differ at times, we can and should be united in the effort to become better as people and a nation."

Ravens players taking a knee included starters Terrell Suggs, C.J. Mosley, Za'Darius Smith, Mike Wallace, Tony Jefferson, Anthony Levine and Lardarius Webb.

"Personally, I think the comments made about my brothers who decided to protest and kneel is kind of what made us no longer be silent," Suggs said. "We stand with our brothers. They have the right to protest. We knelt with them today. Non-violent protest is as American as it gets. We knelt with them today and let them know we are a unified front. There is no dividing us."

The Ravens were formally behind the players' decision to take a knee. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh stood and locked arms with players during the national anthem.

"We recognize our players' influence," Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in a statement. "We respect their demonstration and support them 100 percent. All voices need to be heard. That's democracy in its highest form."

Jaguars players taking a knee were Jalen Ramsey, A.J. Bouye, Calais Campbell, Malik Jackson, Tashaun Gipson, Yannick Ngakoue and Dante Fowler.

"We got together and supported each other and went out there as a team," Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone told reporters. "That's the most important thing. It's an unusual situation, there's no book on how to do it but the way we handled it -- from my standpoint -- there was a lot of communication, a lot of talking and our team will be closer for it."

Every player on each team stood for "God Save the Queen," the British national anthem.