Aaron Rodgers says Packers will link arms at Thursday game, wants fans to join

The Green Bay Packers will link arms during the national anthem before the game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday night, quarterback Aaron Rodgers told PackersNews.com. 

Rodgers said that the Packers will also ask fans to do the same in a show of unity, the first NFL team to do so following President Trump’s controversial remarks on the protesting of the national anthem. 

Trump said at a political rally in Alabama last week that NFL team owners should fire any of the “son of a bitch” players who kneel during the national anthem at football games, a move first popularized by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and several of his teammates as a statement against racial injustice.

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Trump’s comments sparked a number of protests by NFL teams and coaches this week, including a demonstration by the Packers at a Sunday game against the Bengals where the team chose to link arms, while several others kneeled. 

Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy said on Saturday before the game that Trump’s comments on the protests were “divisive” and that it is “important to support any of our players who choose to peacefully express themselves with the hope of change for good.”

The president doubled down on his comments Tuesday, saying the NFL should pass a rule that mandates that players stand for “The Star-Spangled Banner.”