Doug Baldwin Says He Received Death Threats After Advocating for Social Change

In a 60 Minutes Sports interview set to air Tuesday on Showtime, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin said he received death threats for speaking out regarding shooting deaths involving African-Americans and police.

"I did [receive death threats]. I had a few. A couple of people told me to watch my back," Baldwin said about the reaction to his activism (h/t Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times).

The 28-year-old wideout has publicly supported San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and his decision to protest during the national anthem.

Prior to the start of the regular season, Baldwin tweeted a series of thoughts regarding the reaction to Kaepernick's decision (h/t SI Wire):

"

The question is not, "what does the flag or National Anthem mean to you?" That's selfish emotion prohibiting access to empathetic actions. ... What is the "why" for [one's] actions? Not what you think their why is. Not way your why would be. What is the "why" of the person protesting?! ... We honor those who fight for our right to freedom of speech and then condemn those who exercise that right?

"

Like Baldwin, Kaepernick revealed that he received death threats for choosing to kneel during the national anthem, per Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News: "I've had a few come my way but not too concerned about it."

Baldwin spearheaded a demonstration by the Seahawks during "The Star-Spangled Banner," but they opted to stand and link arms rather than kneel.

In response to the death threats, Baldwin explained how he has been handling them in the interview:

"

The same way Colin did. You know, there's issues going on in our society that people feel compelled to talk about and I'm not going to be quiet about. And if something was to happen to me, I think that would just further prove my point that there are issues in our culture, in our society that need to be changed.

"

Anthem demonstrations and speaking out against social injustice don't seem likely to go away anytime soon, and it is clear that Baldwin is unwilling to back down regardless of the opposition he has faced.

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