Harris speaks on religion
Broncos’ OT says Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim sentiments “bigoted”
For the longest time, Ryan Harris didn’t need to respond. Nor did Muhammad Ali, Kareem AbdulJabbar or the many other Muslim athletes who have since spoken up in defense of their religion.
But it changed when Donald Trump, the leading Republican presidential candidate, suggested all Muslims should be barred from entering the United States then later questioned President Barack Obama’s comment that Muslim Americans are among some of the country’s sports heroes.
“I think about it the same way I think about ISIS — it’s just something that’s totally unbased that plays on the fear of people,” said Harris, the Broncos’ offensive tackle who converted to Islam in the eighth grade. “Now it’s getting to a point where we have to remind and reassure people who don’t know Muslims that ISIS is not supported by anyone I know that is Muslim or the majority of Muslims. It’s good to remind people to keep a cool head and ask questions. Spend time with Muslims if you have questions about it, and really learn that Muslims don’t support heinous acts that terrorists commit. And the majority of Americans don’t support the bigoted comments that politicians are making.”
Harris, an eighth-year NFL veteran from Notre Dame, said his beliefs never have been an issue at any stop in his football career.
“Every single one of my teammates my entire life has been supportive, inquisitive. There are a couple guys on the team now that ask me questions,” he said. “We talk all the time about it.”