Broncos Linebacker Brandon Marshall Loses Credit Union Endorsement Over Anthem Protest According to a report in SportsIllustrated , Brandon Marshall ‘s Kaepernick-esque protest of the National Anthem will cost him on of his endorsements… Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall has lost his endorsement deal with Air Academy Federal Credit Union after kneeling during the national anthem on Thursday night before a win over the Panthers. The Colorado-based credit union serves active and retired members of the United States military. “Although we have enjoyed Brandon Marshall as our spokesperson over the past five months, Air Academy Federal Credit Union (AAFCU) has ended our partnership,” president and CEP Glenn Strebe said in a statement. “AAFCU is a membership-based organization who has proudly served the military community for over 60 years. While we respect Brandon’s right of expression, his actions are not a representation of our organization and membership. We wish Brandon well on his future endeavors.” After the game Marshall explained to the DenverPost exactly what his kneeling was meant to signify: “I’m not against the military. I’m not against the police or America. I’m just against social injustice,” Marshall said after the game. “I’m proud of it. I don’t regret it. I know this is right.” Marshall said he was moved by the wave of police brutality that occurred this summer, including two killings of black men by police officers and a third mass shooting of police officers within a three-day span across the country. He’s following the path of Kaepernick, 49ers safety Eric Reid and Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane who have all sat or knelt during the national anthem in the preseason seeking change in what he feels are some of the hidden struggles like racial oppression and police brutality. “I feel like this is the right platform. I feel like this is our only platform to be heard,” Marshall said. “A lot of time people want us to just shut up and entertain them. Shut up and play football. But we have voices as well. We’re actually educated individuals that went to college. When we have an opinion and speak it, a lot of people bash us.” Would you like more athletes to speak up even at the risk of sounding like Shaq and Ray Lewis ? Image via DenverPost
