Broncos join protest in Denver after coach apologises for saying he ‘doesn’t see racism in NFL’

The team wore face masks to protect against the coronavirus and most players’ masks read ”I can’t breathe” in reference to George Floyd's last words

Denver Broncos players join thousands of people protesting the death of George Floyd on June 6 in Denver, Colorado (Getty Images)

Denver Broncos coaches and players marched and spoke out against racism and police brutality at a protest in downtown Denver on Saturday.

The players wore black shirts with the fist of power image and ”Justice for George Floyd” emblazoned on the front and the words, ”If you ain’t with us, you against us” on the back.

All of them wore face masks in accordance with coronavirus mitigation efforts, and most of the players’ masks were black with the phrase ”I can’t breathe” in white lettering.

Safety Kareem Jackson helped organise the team’s appearance at Civic Center Park amid demonstrations sparked by the death of Mr Floyd, a handcuffed black man in Minneapolis who died after a white police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.

Safety Justin Simmons flew in from Florida to join dozens of his teammates at the demonstration that included quarterback Drew Lock and first-round draft pick Jerry Jeudy, making his first trip to Denver.

Also in attendance were team president Joe Ellis, vice president of strategic initiatives Brittany Bowlen, head coach Vic Fangio, coordinators Pat Shurmur and Ed Donatell and several other assistant coaches.

Mr Fangio had apologised earlier in the week after saying that he didn't "see racism at all in the NFL".

His remarks drew anger from NFL fans given how Colin Kaepernick has been treated and the sport’s history of favoring white coaches over minority coaches.

Fangio made an apology on Wednesday. “After reflecting on my comments yesterday and listening to the players this morning, I realize what I said regarding racism and discrimination in the NFL was wrong. While I have never personally experienced those terrible things first-hand during my 33 years in the NFL, I understand that many players, coaches and staff have different perspectives," he said.

Simmons and linebackers Von Miller, Alexander Johnson and Jeremiah Attaochu were among the Broncos who spoke to the crowd of thousands from the steps of the Greek Amphitheater. Afterward, the team marched with other demonstrators through downtown streets, fists raised and chanting, ”I can’t breathe!” and ”Black lives matter!”

The crowd was about evenly split between whites and racial minorities, something Simmons, who is biracial, said was important.

Simmons thanked his ”fellow black brothers and sisters,” asked them to look around and see the support they had and implored them to ”keep fighting the good fight.”

”I understand the grief, I understand the pain, I’ve lived it, I’ve been a part of it,” Simmons said. ”I’m standing here today telling you hate does not drive out hate, OK? … We have to make sure we stick together. … This is making a difference.”

Simmons thanked the white demonstrators for coming out and asked them to continue speaking out against racism and excessive use of force by police against racial minorities ”because you have more power in your voice than we could ever have.”

Failing to spread the word, he said, would stifle real change and justice.

”If you can look at white people and do not have those conversations their lives will not be affected by it,” Simmons said. ”But black lives will.”

Associated Press contributed to this report