Bears players demonstrate against racial injustice before Saints game

Bears players continued protesting racial inequality and police brutality by demonstrating during the national anthem before their game against the Saints on Sunday.

Defensive linemen Roy Robertson-Harris, Bilal Nichols, Brent Urban and John Jenkins kneeled, as did linebacker Josh Woods and right tackle Bobby Massie. Outside linebacker James Vaughters raised a fist.

Offensive line coach Juan Castillo also kneeled.

Roughly half the team remained in the tunnel during the anthem.

The Bears have been part of a league-wide movement for social justice all year. They held team meetings on race in the offseason and preseason, and players have repeatedly spoken out on major incidents.

Bears players went so far as to boycott a practice in August to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Kenosha, Wis. They also encouraged people to vote over the past week, and the team will give players the day off Tuesday so they can do so.

“We’ve actually created a board in Halas Hall right now that has things we can do, whether it’s giving back to social justice initiatives and vote — just a lot of different things,” left tackle Charles Leno said. “I think they’re doing a really good job of that. Sometimes you can lose sight of that in a season like this, but we’ve been doing a good job.”