Anquan Boldin Among 5 NFL Players to Meet with Congress on Race, Police Issues

Many NFL players have symbolically taken a stand against racial injustice in the United States this season, and Detroit Lions wide receiver Anquan Boldin was among those who discussed the country's cultural landscape with members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday. 

According to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, Boldin, Lions safety Glover Quin, Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown, Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins and Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins also represented the NFL and its players.

The group planned to talk about race and police brutality issues. Boldin told ESPN's Jim Trotter that he wanted to "help close that gap" when it comes to the mistrust between African-Americans and police.

Trotter later shared a photo of the players on Capitol Hill:

Representative Yvette Clarke also shared a photo of the meeting along with her thoughts:

On Wednesday, Boldin commented on how the meeting went, per Kyle Meinke of MLive.com:

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I think all of us walked away feeling optimistic. I think the great thing is, whether you're a Democrat or Republican, both sides agree that there is a divide between the two. So there's something that needs to be done, no matter what side you sit on — whether you're Democrat or Republican. I think you have to reach across the aisle, and come together as one, and reach a solution.

I know it's not an overnight thing. It's something that's going to have to be worked at and just worked at for a long time. But what we do want to see is progress, and we want to make sure that our voices are heard. Those who feel like they don't have a voice, we want to be a voice for them.

"

Per ESPN.com, McCown was hoping to come away with a better understanding of what African-Americans are dealing with when it comes to their relationship with police heading into the meeting:

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I don't believe we, as white people, can understand what African-Americans go through on a daily basis, because it's different. For me, first and foremost, I want to be able to acknowledge that, and say that our stories are different and our histories are different, but let's just try to be a part of making it better moving forward.

"

The NFL has been at the forefront of demonstrating against racial injustice in America dating back to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's decision to first sit and then kneel during the national anthem in the preseason.

Kaepernick has continued to protest during "The Star-Spangled Banner" throughout the campaign, and many players have joined him in either kneeling or raising a fist.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin and some of his teammates held a meeting with Seattle police in October in an effort to smooth relations, and Wednesday's trip to Capitol Hill is the latest in a long series of steps toward finding common ground.

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