Tampa’s Brown rocks NHL with protest
IT DIDN’T take long for the death threats to arrive.
Right after Lightning winger J.T. Brown put his fist in the air during the national anthem earlier this month, he said he received threats over social media.
Brown, the first NHL player to demonstrate against racial injustice during the national anthem, said in a recent statement that the threats “prove why this topic must be talked about.”
Brown, 27, is one of almost 30 NHL players who are black. He grew up in Minnesota, the son of former Viking Ted Brown, and for the last year he wrestled with the idea of joining the anthem protests sweeping through professional sports. Finally, on Oct. 7, prior to a road game against the Panthers, he raised his fist like John Carlos and Tommie Smith did at the Olympics 49 years ago this week.
“It’s been a process,” Brown told the Daily News prior to Tuesday night’s game against the Devils in Newark. “I just made the decision I felt was right.”
Brown said the decision to demonstrate was clinched after speaking with military veterans. Similar to Green Beret Nate Boyer recommending Colin Kaepernick take a knee (rather than sit) during the anthem a year ago, Brown decided to raise a fist after speaking with servicemen.
“I think if you ask each individual military member, they may give you a different story. Just like if you ask each member of a team, you’re going to have different opinions,” Brown said. “But the overwhelming majority said, ‘Whether or not I agree with you, it’s your right to do it and it’s not going to change how I feel about you. I’ll stand right with you. If I was standing next to you, I’d put my hand on your shoulder, whether you’re sitting, kneeling, doesn’t matter.’”
Brown has said he’s endured racism throughout his career. He and a handful of other black NHL players have talked about social issues, but so far Brown is the only one to demonstrate.
“We have had discussions, but the most important thing is outside,” Brown said. “The change happens outside the rink.”
Consistent with that belief, Brown met with Tampa police last Friday and spent the day training with officers. After he put his fist in the air, Brown was offered an invitation by interim police chief Brian Dugan, a former Lightning employee. The experience was eyeopening.
“It was nice for him to reach out and say, ‘How can we work together?’” Brown said. “I think that’s the most important thing is working together and finding the common ground and being able to step outside of my comfort zone and see what it’s like over on their side.”
Brown went through various training exercises with cops, ranging from domestic disturbances to drunk and disorderly conduct, to the use of tasers and pepper spray. One particular exercise, in which Brown took part in a staged traffic stop, was especially scary when the driver pretended to open fire at him.
“I know they have a hard job. But that put it in perspective. I want to learn,” Brown said. “I wanted to be able to learn from them and get the firsthand experience.”