Even before its feud over the National Anthem with President Trump, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) wasn’t on the same political team as many of its fans, judging from its contributions to leftist advocacy groups.
Hungarian-born George Soros with other anti-Trump Leftist organizations are funding NFL players take-a-knee protests against President Trump. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Tax documents released by 2ndVote show the NFLPA donated $5,000 in 2015 to the Center for Community Change Action, a group active in the anti-Trump resistance and bankrolled by a host of liberal foundations, including top Democratic donor George Soros’s Foundation for Open Society.
A member of the AFL-CIO, the NFLPA also contributed in 2013 and 2015 to Working America, the AFL-CIO’s community affiliate, which Open Secrets said spent $1 million in 2016 to defeat Trump.
Working America has since mobilized against the Republican tax-cut framework, denouncing it as the “Trump tax scam.”
NFLPA donations from 2013, 2014 and 2015 were made before President Trump was elected into office.
Indianapolis Colts players take a knee in protest to the National Anthem before the Cleveland Browns game on Sunday, 24 September 2017. Credit: AP
“Clearly, ‘social activism’ by NFL players includes aligning with George Soros and other liberal organizations like Planned Parenthood in support of the left’s agenda,” said 2ndVote, a conservative watchdog group.
The NFLPA issued a statement in support of players who have protested racial injustice by sitting or taking a knee during the national anthem after Trump suggested in a Sept. 22 speech that team owners should fire those who refuse to stand.
NFLPA president Eric Winston said he was “extremely disappointed” in the President’s remarks.
An NFL player takes a knee in protest in this undated image.
“The comments were a slap in the face to the civil rights heroes of the past and present, soldiers who have spilled blood in countless wars to uphold the values of this great nation and American people of all races, ethnicities, genders and sexual orientations who seek civil progress as a means to make this country, and this world, a better place,” said Winston in a Sept. 23 statement.
An estimated 200 players sat or knelt during the national a
nthem the following weekend, while only about 50 did so last weekend.
In a joint statement, the NFL and NFLPA said they met Tuesday to discuss “the important issue of social activism by NFL players,” but 2ndVote urged them to call a halt to the political advocacy.
NFL teams are struggling to fill stadiums with fans in the wake of National Anthem protests by players. Above, empty Rams stadium.
“With television audiences declining every week and fans growing increasingly tired of the disrespect of the flag, the league and the players’ union would find it in their best interest to end the liberal activism and focus on football,” said 2ndVote. “After all, millions are finding it in their best interest not to watch the NFL at all.”
Washington Times
