Seth DeValve becomes first white NFL player to join national anthem protest

'I wanted to support my African American teammates... there are things in this country that still need to change'

A dozen Browns players took part in the protest on Monday night (Getty Images)

Cleveland Browns tight-end Seth DeValve became the first white NFL player to kneel during the national anthem on Monday night, saying he took part in the protest to support his African American teammates.

A group of 12 Browns player took a knee ahead of their pre-season match against the New York Giants in what is said to be the largest protest of its kind to date.

“I wanted to support my African American teammates,” DeValve said after the game.

“We wanted to draw attention to the fact that there are things in this country that still need to change.”

NFL players – and other American sports stars – have followed the lead of San Francisco 49ers quarter-back Colin Kaepernick in using the gesture as a form of protest against racial injustice in the US.

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour,” Kaepernick said after taking a knee ahead of the 49ers loss to the Green Bay Packers last year.

The 29-year-old, who is a vocal supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement, commented after that match that police killings in the US had forced him into action.

“To me, this is bigger than football,” he said. “It would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, who has been kneeling during the anthem during pre-season, was shown support by white teammate Justin Britt who stood with his hand on his shoulder before their match against the Minnesota Vikings on Friday.

Bennett said support from white players would “really get things changed.”

“It would take a white player to really get things changed because when somebody from the other side understands and they step up and they speak up about it … it would change the whole conversation,” Bennett said last week.

“Because when you bring somebody who doesn’t have to be a part of [the] conversation making himself vulnerable in front of it, I think when that happens, things will really take a jump.”

DeValve answered his call.