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New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett (88) poses for a selfie with his brother Michael Bennett who plays for the Seattle Seahawks while on the field for pre game warm ups. The Atlanta Falcons play the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston on Feb. 5, 2017. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett (88) poses for a selfie with his brother Michael Bennett who plays for the Seattle Seahawks while on the field for pre game warm ups. The Atlanta Falcons play
Seattle Seahawks defensive ends Cliff Avril (56) and Michael Bennett (72) walk at the start of practice, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, in Renton, Wash. The Seahawks are scheduled to play the Atlanta Falcons in an NFL football NFC playoff game Saturday in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks defensive ends Cliff Avril (56) and Michael Bennett (72) walk at the start of practice, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, in Renton, Wash. The Seahawks are scheduled to play the Atlanta Falcons in an NFL
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett listens to a question as he talks to reporters, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, in Renton, Wash. The Seahawks will play the Atlanta Falcons in an NFL football NFC playoff game, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017 in Atlanta (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett listens to a question as he talks to reporters, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, in Renton, Wash. The Seahawks will play the Atlanta Falcons in an NFL football NFC playoff
Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett takes the field before the start of Seattle’s game against Arizona, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016 at CenturyLink Field. (Genna Martin, seattlepi.com)
Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett takes the field before the start of Seattle’s game against Arizona, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016 at CenturyLink Field. (Genna Martin, seattlepi.com)
Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett celebrates his sack of Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer the first possession of their game Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016 at CenturyLink Field. (Genna Martin, seattlepi.com)
Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett celebrates his sack of Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer the first possession of their game Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016 at CenturyLink Field. (Genna Martin,
Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett won’t make a planned trip to Israel out of concerns the visit will be used for political purposes.
Bennett, 31, was scheduled to go to to Israel along with several other NFL players later this month, but decided against it after an open letter to the players from The Nation on Thursday.
The letter, which, authored by sports editor Dave Zirin and signed by the likes of political activist Angela Davis and athlete/activist John Carlos, among others, urged the players to “consider the political ramifications of a propaganda trip organized by the Israeli government that aims to prevent players from seeing the experience of Palestinians living under military occupation.”
Bennett responded with a statement of his own on social media, which follows in its entirety:
Dear World,
I was scheduled to make a visit to Israel with fellow NFL players. I was excited to see this remarkable and historic part of the world with my own eyes. I was not aware, until reading this article about the trip in the Times of Israel, that my itinerary was being constructed by the Israeli government for the purposes of making me, in the words of a government official, an “influencer and opinion-former” who would then be “an ambassador of good will.” I will not be used in such a manner. When I do go to Israel — and I do plan to go — it will be to see not only Israel but also the West Bank and Gaza so I can see how the Palestinians, who have called this land home for thousands of years, live their lives.
One of my heroes has always been Muhammad Ali. I know that Ali always stood strongly with the Palestinian people, visiting refugee camps, going to rallies, and always willing to be a “voice for the voiceless.” I want to be a “voice for the voiceless,” and I cannot do that by going on this kind of trip to Israel.
I know that this will anger some people and inspire others. But please know that I did this not for you, but to be in accord with my own values and my own conscience. Like 1968 Olympian John Carlos always says, “There is no partial commitment to justice. You are either in or you’re out.” Well, I’m in.
Sincerely,
Michael Bennett
Bennett and Zirin appeared together at a Seattle town hall meeting discussing the intersection of sports and politics last month.
New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett, Michael’s brother, also reportedly backed out of the trip. Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril has not yet responded to the open letter and is still part of the scheduled delegation, as are Titans tight end Delanie Walker, Eagles linebacker Michael Kendricks, Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan, Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills, Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell, 49ers running back Carlos Hyde, Raiders defensive tackle Dan Williams, Broncos running back Justin Forsett, and former NFL linebacker Kirk Morrison.
The players are scheduled to tour Israel for a week, visiting Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Dead Sea.
“I see great importance in the arrival of this delegation of NFL stars to Israel,” Israeli strategic affairs minister Gilad Erdan said in a statement announcing the trip. “I have no doubt that their visit will be a powerful experience for them, and I hope that through their visit, they will get a balanced picture of Israel — the opposite from the false incitement campaign being waged against Israel around the world.”
Bennett has been one of the NFL’s most outspoken players on social issues, calling out fellow NFL stars for their unwillingness to speak out on issues like the “Black Lives Matter” movement on the first day of training camp last summer.
He earned his second Pro Bowl berth in 2016 despite missing five games with a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery in early November. A dominant defender against both the pass and the run, he ranked third on the team with five sacks and 18 quarterback hits on the season, but led the team with 14 tackles for loss despite playing in just 10 games.
Bennett signed a three-year contract extension worth a reported $31.5 million with $17.5 million in guarantees in December, which will keep him in Seattle through the 2020 season.
Visit seattlepi.com for more Seattle Seahawks news. Contact sports reporter Stephen Cohen at stephencohen@seattlepi.com or @scohenPI.
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