SANTA CLARA–The NFL owners might not be united in demanding that their players stand for the national anthem. San Francisco CEO Jed York has told his team through safety Eric Reid that he won’t interfere with his players right to protest.
Eric Reid met with Jed York, said #49ers owner wants to support his players protesting.
"He's not going to force us to do anything." pic.twitter.com/43vBfIYDoV
— Sam Hustis (@SamHustis) October 11, 2017
“I have talked to Jed and he expressed very clearly that he wants to support us, that he’s not going to force us to do anything. Speaking for our team, that’s what he told me explicitly,” Reid said Wednesday.
Reid and 49ers linebacker Eli Harold joined former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick last year in kneeling for the national anthem to protest police brutality and social injustice.
York supported the protest and donated $1 million to causes that help communities of color. York has been involved in social causes before, including getting police and communities together for flag football games at the team’s facility. York also donated $75,000 a few years ago to fight a discriminatory transgender law in North Carolina.
Reid, who has been the team’s union rep in the past, also said he doesn’t know if the NFL owners can force players to stand for the anthem.
“As far as I know that would be something that is collectively bargained on,” Reid said. “I am not sure if
they can do that. I guess we will see.”