Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins says NFL players who have been speaking out politically are fighting for racial and social equality, not disparaging the national anthem.
Jenkins issued a lengthy statement on Twitter on Tuesday after the White House disinvited the Eagles from an event originally intended to honor the Super Bowl champions. President Donald Trump has framed the decision around the national anthem and his repeated arguments that NFL players should be required to stand on the field when the song is played before games.
Jenkins says the White House made a decision "to lie, and paint the picture that these players are anti-America, anti-flag and anti-military."
He says he will "continue to fight for impacted citizens and give a voice to those who never had one."
