SANTA CLARA–Niners’ safety Eric Reid, who knelt last year during the Star Spangled Banner with former 49ers Colin Kaepernick, said he will continue to kneel in the near future even after meeting with NFL owners on Tuesday in New York.
However, Reid said progress was made on the issues he raised with Kaepernick last year when they first started protesting the national anthem.
Reid refrained from getting into specifics until a joint program with protesting players and the NFL is more concrete. Reid, Kaepernick and linebacker Eli Harold first wanted to draw attention to police violence, racism and inequality in communities of color.
“It was a start, we had a lot of good conversation,” said Reid who also met with Kaepernick on Monday night. “I think we are on the path for what Colin and I were looking for when we first started protesting. The NFL has agreed to commit to a long-term plan and to use their platform to continue to raise awareness. … and to help feel like we don’t need to protest.”
He said the players will again meet in a couple weeks to cement plans for joint campaigns between the league and players to address inequality.
“It doesn’t change our plan just yet,” Reid said. “It’s a great starting point. But nothing is going to change on my part until we have a concrete plan and until I feel I don’t need to protest because the NFL is providing a better platform.”