Super Bowl Winning Players Say Their Locker Room Talk Is About Trump – and That’s Why They’ll Boycott the White House

‘You see Donald Trump tweet something … We have those conversations in the locker room, just like everyone else does in the workplace’ says Torrey Smith

Several Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl winning players are planning to boycott an honorary White House visit in response to President Donald Trump’s attacks on NFL players protesting the killings of Black people by police officers and the refusal of the federal government to help end the crisis.

The Eagles’ Malcolm Jenkins told CNN Monday morning, “I personally do not anticipate attending” the traditional White House celebration. He said he is not trying to send a message to the president because his “message has been clear all year.”

“I’m about creating positive change in the communities that I come from, whether it be Philadelphia, New Jersey, Ohio, Louisiana, or this entire country,” Jenkins, a leader of the PlayersCoalition, told “New Day.”

“I want to see changes in our criminal justice system. I want to see us push for economic and educational advancement in communities of color and low-income communities. And I want to see our relationships between our communities and our law enforcement be advanced.”

“That’s what myself and my peers have been pushing for for the last two years, and that’s what I’ll continue to do.”

The Eagles’ Torrey Smith last week made clear he would not be attending if invited to the White House, citing talk the players have in the locker room about Trump.

“We read the news just like everyone else,” Smith said Wednesday, as NJ.com reported. “You see Donald Trump tweet something … We have those conversations in the locker room, just like everyone else does in the workplace. We’re very informed about what goes on, and we’re trying to continue to educate ourselves. It’s pretty special to have a group like that of folks that aren’t just socially conscious, but folks who genuinely care about people and care about learning more.”

“I’m not saying we’re right about everything, but we’re willing to figure out what is right. We’re willing to work with people to find the best way to move forward, because there are problems and we’re not shy about speaking up about them.” 

During the playing of the National Anthem at Sunday’s Super Bowl, ThinkProgress reports that “Jenkins decided not to raise his fist or take a knee during the national anthem. Smith chose to raise his fist in a show of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.”

ThinkProgress also notes that “Eagles defensive end Chris Long, who boycotted last year’s White House visit as a member of the Patriots and donated his entire 2017 season salary to support education equality for underprivileged students, has also said he will be skipping this year’s trip.”

“No, I’m not going to the White House. Are you kidding me?” Long said last Sunday.

Politico adds that “Eagles running back LeGarrette Blount, who played for the Patriots last year, also skipped the trip at the time.” No word yet on if he will boycott the White House again this year.

Hat tip: ThinkProgress