Seahawks’ Michael Bennett on national anthem protests: ‘You need a white guy to join the fight’

Colin Kaepernick started a movement in professional sports by choosing not to stand during the national anthem to raise awareness to social injustice, with several players around the NFL staging similar protests of their own.

But Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett thinks something — or somebody — is missing.

“You need a white guy to join the fight,” he told the Seattle Times. “The white guy is super important to the fight. For people to really see social injustices, there must be someone from the other side of the race who recognizes the problem, because a lot of times if just one race says there’s a problem, nobody is realistic about it.”

Bennett himself has yet to kneel or raise a fist in protest, as the Seahawks have chosen to make their social statement by linking arms and standing as a team during the anthem. His brother, New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett, is one of several players who have protested by raising a fist for the anthem.

Some white athletes in other sports have taken a knee during the “Star-Spangled Banner,” including the Seattle Reign’s Megan Rapinoe and members of the Indiana Fever, who knelt as a team before their playoff game on Wednesday.

“I think it would have a great impact,” Seattle receiver Doug Baldwin said. “It would get a different part of the population to open their eyes and ears.”

“If somebody like, say, Aaron Rodgers got behind us, I think it would touch home for a lot more people,” Seattle defensive lineman Cliff Avril said. “At the same time, I see why they probably wouldn’t, because they don’t know what we’re going through. That’s one of those situations where it’s unfortunate.”

charles.schilken@latimes.com

Twitter: @chewkiii