Raiders Owner Mark Davis on His Players Protesting: ‘Do It with Pride’

Raiders Owner Mark Davis didn’t always approve of his players protesting, while wearing the silver and black. However, due to a combination of factors, Davis has had a change of heart.

Using analogies such as “static in the air,” as well as the streets getting “hot,” and fuel being “added to the fire.” Davis described to ESPN the process he went through, which led him to the conclusion that he could no longer ask his players not to protest in uniform.

Davis told ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez:

About a year ago, before our Tennessee game, I met with Derek Carr and Khalil Mack to ask their permission to have Tommie Smith light the torch for my father before the game in Mexico City. I explained to them that I was asking their permission because I had previously told them that I would prefer that they not protest while in the Raiders uniform. And should they have something to say, once their uniform was off, I might go up there with them. Over the last year, though, the streets have gotten hot and there has been a lot of static in the air and recently, fuel has been added to the fire. I can no longer ask our team to not say something while they are in a Raider uniform. The only thing I can ask them to do is do it with class. Do it with pride. Not only do we have to tell people there is something wrong, we have to come up with answers. That’s the challenge in front of us as Americans and human beings.

Regardless of what one may think of Davis’ decision, it must be said that his statement comes off a lot more natural and unrehearsed, than many of the other statements from NFL owners. The Raiders saw a large contingent of players protest during their Sunday night game against the Redskins.

The Raiders lost to the Redskins, 27-10.