It started with just one, then one more, then another—and now a total of six New England Patriots players have said they will be skipping out on the team’s meeting with President Donald Trump.
Over the course of a week, Martellus Bennett, Devin McCourty and Dont’a Hightower all said no to the invitation. Bennett and McCourty both decided to skip out for political reasons, while Hightower has already been to the White House once, when he was with the University of Alabama after winning the national championship, and said he had no interest in going again, suggesting the decision wasn’t Trump-related.
On Thursday, three turned into six. Running back LeGarrette Blount and defensive tackle Alan Branch, both black, decided to join the protest. Defensive end Chris Long, in a response to a New York Daily News open letter calling him out as well as the “pathetic sea of NFL white silence,” also decided to join in. Long is the only white player to boycott the visit so far.
Oh Chuck. Planned on skipping, hadn’t been asked. Don’t need an open letter explaining my own words to me. Not *joining* anyone. My call. https://t.co/XWo9x2XT40
— Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) February 9, 2017
Folks on Twitter are also calling for several other players to join in.
Chris Long is the first white @Patriots player to boycott White House victory celebration. @RobGronkowski – can you be second? 😊👏🏼
— Nicole Dupras (@NicoleDupras) February 10, 2017
@Edelman11 Congrats on your victory! Please skip the White House visit to stand with your fans who are being hurt by Trump
— Lauren Chesney (@laurenchesney) February 9, 2017
@JBrissett12 PLEASE TELL US YOU ARE NOT GOING TO THE WHITE HOUSE…
— Louise Rowe (@carmel361310) February 7, 2017