Story highlights Michael Bennett says he won't stand for national anthem until he sees "equality and freedom"

He calls Colin Kaepernick a great fighter for equality

(CNN) Michael Bennett can no longer stay silent. And while he likely doesn't want to have the same fate as Colin Kaepernick -- who is without an NFL team -- the Seattle Seahawks defensive end is taking social action.

"I can't stand for the national anthem," Bennett, who is 31 and in his ninth NFL season, told CNN on Tuesday. "I can't stand right now. I'm not going to be standing until I see the equality and freedom."

Following the events that occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia, Bennett on Sunday took a public stance: He sat on the team's bench with a towel on his head as the national anthem was played before a preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Carson, California. He later said that what happened in Charlottesville "had a lot to do with" what he did.

Bennett, who grew up in Texas, told CNN that seeing what happened in Charlottesville reminded him of the dragging death of James Byrd , and that it left him in disbelief.

"I grew up around that, listening and remembering those things, and thinking about Charlottesville brought back those memories," Bennett said. "It actually brought tears to my eyes to see people fighting and having to hate for somebody because of their color. I couldn't believe it took (President Donald Trump) 48 hours to respond. I thought he would have responded within seconds. And when he came on, I thought he should have handled it just as fast as when he's tweeting about Russia or something."

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