Protest goes peacefully outside Panthers game
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chanting “No Justice! No Peace!” as they converged outside Bank of America Stadium, about 100 people peacefully demonstrated the fatal police shooting of a black man before the Carolina Panthers game Sunday.
Nothing felt normal about what should have been a typical fall day of NFL football.
A heavy police presence surrounded the stadium, where officers in black riot gear stood side- by- side around the entrances. There had been concerns that a sixth day of protests over Tuesday night’s fatal shooting of Keith Scott would disrupt the game, or prevent fans from entering the stadium.
Instead, it was quiet in the hours leading up to the game, as many fans stopped to hug officers and pose for pictures. Protesters didn’t gather until about an hour before kickoff, when the group used bullhorns and held signs in demonstration.
As kickoff neared, most of the protesters dropped to one knee when the national anthem played inside the stadium. Along the sideline inside the game, Carolina safety Marcus Ball raised his fist during the national anthem.
Last month, San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick started a protest movement by not standing during the national anthem. He has said he wants to draw attention to racial oppression and police brutality in the United States. Many athletes have since joined him or said they support him, even before the recent police shootings in Charlotte and Tulsa, Okla.
As Sunday’s protest in Charlotte went on, fans heading for the stadium strolled by, many appearing to ignore the demonstrators. From inside the stadium, people stopped on access ramps on the upper level to watch the demonstrators.
The crowd inside was flat, the Panthers didn’t play well, and many fans didn’t return to their seats after halftime. Carolina lost its first home game since November, 2014, but coach Ron Rivera said it was unfair to blame the unrest in Charlotte for the way the Panthers played.
“When we are here, we practice, we do the things we are supposed to do,” Rivera said.