NFL mothers pen letter to Trump defending their sons

An organization representing the mothers of professional football players penned an open letter condemning President Trump’s statements bashing NFL players who kneel during the national anthem at football games.

In a letter obtained by BuzzFeed News, the Professional Football Players Mothers Association defended the players who have knelt during the national anthem, an action which Trump has deemed a fireable offense that should be met with restrictions by the NFL. 

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“It saddens the organization to know that President Donald Trump would make our sons — as well as their mothers — the target of inflammatory, offensive comments that are intended to promote anger and hatred, depleting them of their heritage and self-identity,” the group wrote in the letter. 

Trump had suggested at an Alabama rally last week that NFL team owners should remove any player from the field who knelt during the anthem, which Trump said was disrespectful to the American flag. 

The president’s comments have been widely condemned throughout the NFL.

“Whether it be by kneeling or standing with their arms locked, our sons have chosen this platform to get the message out about social justice and unity, and they will always have our support,” the mothers said in their statement. 

“Now that we obviously have your attention,” the group concluded, “let’s put a stop to the divisive language and start a productive dialogue for positive change.” 

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at a Thursday press conference that the President Trump’s stance on the issue is a “black and white.”

“I don’t think there’s much to clarify,” she told reporters.