Saturday night, Tampa Bay Lightning forward JT Brown raised his fist during the national anthem to raise awareness for racial inequality. After the game, Capitals right winger Devante Smith-Pelly reached out to Brown to let him know that he loved what he did and that he was “proud of him.”
According to Isabelle Khurshudyan at the Washington Post, Smith-Pelly isn’t sure that he will personally protest, but respects what JT Brown did during the anthem. After hearing about Smith-Pelly’s comments, several Washington Capitals players approached him and said they would support him if he wanted to do something.
Devante Smith-Pelly said he respects what J.T. Brown did. He’s considered protesting in some way, too, but isn’t sure he will.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) October 9, 2017
After Smith-Pelly’s comments to @bruce_arthur, several Caps approached him and said they’d support him if he wanted to do something.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) October 9, 2017
Smith-Pelly recently called being one of the few black players in the league “lonely” and echoed those sentiments today. Brown’s courage impressed DSP.
#Caps Devante Smith-Pelly said he reached out to @JTBrown23 to tell him he loved what he did w protest. “I’m proud of him.” #tblightning
— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) October 9, 2017
Smith-Pelly: a “lonely” feeling w/ few black players. “That’s makes what ‘Brownie’ did even more respectable. Because he’s all by himself.”
— Joe Smith (@TBTimes_JSmith) October 9, 2017
Headline photo: Cara Bahniuk
