Hundreds Of Protesters Kneel Outside AT&T Stadium Before Cowboys-Eagles Game

Colin Kaepernick is gaining even more fans.

National Anthem Protest Outside Cowboys Stadium

Around 300 protesters gathered outside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas before Sunday night’s matchup between the Cowboys and Eagles, to kneel during the playing of the national anthem.

The protest was reportedly organized by the Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas. Nearly all participants wore black.

“We’re here to stand with him as we also refocus the narrative,” said the church’s pastor, Dr. Frederick Douglas Haynes III. “It never was about the flag. It never was about the anthem. It was always about Christian Taylor, Clinton Allen, Tamir Rice … all of those names of individuals whose lives have been lost at the hands of police who overreached and were violent.”

Inside the stadium, Cowboys defensive end David Irving raised his fist — as he had once before — at the end of The Star-Spangled Banner. Several Eagles players also protested in similar ways. Philadelphia won the game 37-9 to improve to 9-1. Dallas is 5-5.

The protest outside AT&T Stadium came just a few days after Cowboys owner Jerry Jones apologized for a racially insensitive comment he made several years ago. The comment was captured on video and posted late last week. In 2013, Jones reportedly taped a voice message for a white man at a Dallas hotel who requested the voicemail for his fiancee.  “Hey, Jennifer, congratulations on the wedding,” said Jones. “Now, you know he’s with a black girl tonight, don’t you?”

Jones later apologized for the remark on Friday shortly after the video surfaced.

At the protest, Haynes also called on Jones to join the fight for criminal justice reform.

“If you’re truly a patriot, Mr. Jones, use your privilege to benefit your players and their community,” Haynes told The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “Because once they take off their helmet and get in their cars, they’re subject to the same things.”

The Cowboys next host the Los Angeles Chargers on Thanksgiving, while the Eagles will host the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

 ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 19: Alshon Jeffery #17 of the Philadelphia Eagles pulls in a touchdown reception against Jourdan Lewis #27 of the Dallas Cowboys in the second half of a football game at AT&T Stadium on November 19, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)