The Vikings announced they will recognize the family of George Floyd and wear custom T-shirts with the names of 200 people who have been killed by acts of racism or police brutality before Sunday's season opener against the Packers.
The shirts will be worn throughout pregame warmups at U.S. Bank Stadium. The 200 names will be on the back of the shirts. The front will read "Be the Change." Players may also wear NFLPA- and player-created warmup T-shirts with the phrase, "An injustice to one is an injustice to all of US."
"I think, first of all, our team and our ownership and our Social Justice Committee have done an unbelievable job," Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said Friday. "The number of things that we're trying to do to help the communities, help bring people together, and I think that's really what it's all about."
The Vikings also will be part of leaguewide programming that includes:
• End zones marked with the messages, "It takes All of Us" and "End Racism."
• Player and coach can wear helmet decals or hat patches with social justice-related messages or the name of a victim of systemic racism.
• At the conclusion of player warmups, a prerecorded musical performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by James Weldon Johnson will accompany a video showcasing the social justice work of NFL clubs and players.
After the performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," the Vikings will recognize the family of George Floyd, who was killed in Minneapolis police custody on Memorial Day. His family will be inside the stadium.
