The "Black Lives Matter Protest and Rally" took place in Milpitas, California, on Sunday, and started from City Hall. Among the individuals who spoke to the crowd was San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne. He shared some video of his speech via Instagram, and our friends over at @TheSFNiners posted the following on Twitter.
Kendrick Bourne is out here bringing the people together 👏 #49ers pic.twitter.com/LWfUNdiU9H
— TheSFNiners (@TheSFNiners) June 8, 2020
"Just being a guy to put myself out there," Bourne told the crowd, "I might be the one that makes other players put themselves out there. I just wanted to appreciate you all, everybody coming together. I seen the flyer, so I just wanted to come out and [give] my support to everybody.
"All the stuff that's been going on, it's just really scary out here. Everybody, keep the faith. Know change is going to come. I know it's going to come. I'm using my platform, just put it out there, retweeting everything I see, posting everything that needs to be done, needs to be changed with all the situations going on, all the cases that need to be reopened."
Added Bourne: "I love the Bay, so all the protests going on everywhere, keep it up. Stay strong."
Bourne kneeled at the end of his speech, and the crowd followed. Given recent events, there has been much talk surrounding the possibility that athletes — not just in the NFL — will once again kneel before games in protest of social injustice. It's an initiative that started with Colin Kaepernick doing the same thing in 2016. The former 49ers quarterback kneeled during the national anthem in an effort to bring attention to the issues of racism that continue to plague the country.
Legendary change coming! S/o KAP! RIP GEORGE FLOYD And the lost loved ones! #BLM pic.twitter.com/l5sT6PFfzu
— Kendrick Bourne Poly (@BournePoly11) June 8, 2020
The peaceful protest and rally involved thousands of individuals marching down North Milpitas Boulevard, hoping for an end to racism and social injustice. Milpitas is located just north of San Jose.
Bourne is entering his fourth year in the NFL, and with the 49ers — the team that signed him in 2017 as an undrafted free agent. The receiver signed a one-year tender with San Francisco in April.
