Michael Bennett Comments on Need for Diversity in National Anthem Protests

NFL players have been protesting social injustice in different forms during the "The Star-Spangled Banner" in recent weeks, and Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett believes the message would be amplified by diversity.

Specifically, Bennett told the Seattle Times' Matt Calkins on Thursday that he believes a protest from a white player would go a long way.

"You need a white guy to join the fight. The white guy is super important to the fight," Bennett said. "For people to really see social injustices, there must be someone from the other side of the race who recognizes the problem, because a lot of times if just one race says there's a problem, nobody is realistic about it."

As Calkins noted, plenty of NFL players have knelt or raised their fists during the anthem. However, none of them have been white.

"If somebody like, say, Aaron Rodgers got behind us, I think it would touch home for a lot more people," Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril said. "At the same time, I see why they probably wouldn't, because they don't know what we're going through. That's one of those situations where it's unfortunate."

Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka echoed that sentiment.

"I think a lot of white people are uncomfortable talking about it," he said. "I don't want to speak for all white people, but I know for myself, I'm uncomfortable about the subject. There's a lot of racial tension that goes way back, and I don't know what it's like to be black in this country. I don't know how any white person could."

Seahawks players have been among the league's most outspoken regarding protests against social injustice on the heels of Colin Kaepernick's initial decision to sit for the national anthem, and wide receiver Doug Baldwin has emerged as a proactive voice in discussions about racial inequality.

During a press conference Thursday, Baldwin demanded all 50 United States attorneys general meet and discuss reforms to policing practices after fatal shootings that killed Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Shortly after Baldwin spoke, Washington state attorney general Bob Ferguson reached out to Baldwin on Twitter and said he'll "be reaching out soon to see if you'd like to sit down and chat."