Editor’s note: Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall offers his perspective on social inequality in the United States and what went into his decisions to kneel during the national anthem last Thursday and to meet with Denver Police Chief Robert White on Tuesday to discuss ways to effect change. Marshall is a fifth-year player who was the recipient of the Broncos’ 2015 Community Ambassador, the Darrent Williams Good Guy and the Ed Block Courage awards for his contributions on and off the field. This piece was transcribed from an interview with Denver Post reporter Nicki Jhabvala.

There was some hesitance initially, because I knew what it would look like. I knew all the scrutiny I would get. I knew the endorsements I could potentially lose. And I definitely thought about how my team would look at me. All of that came into my mind, but I still felt like this was important.

Last Thursday, when I decided to kneel for the national anthem before our game against the Panthers, I knew it was a big stage — the biggest stage. But I also knew I needed to step up and become part of the movement against social injustices.

As I was on one knee last week, I could see all the cameras shifting toward me. I could see people snapping pictures, and I knew when I got back to my phone that I would have a ton of messages awaiting my response. It was the longest national anthem I can remember. Related Articles September 14, 2016 Reactions to Brandon Marshall’s protest of national anthem at Broncos game (13 letters)

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After the game, coach Gary Kubiak told me he wanted to talk to me the next morning. So I went into his office and he said the Broncos support me and that they have my back and that they want me to keep being me. He didn’t say anything about football, because he didn’t have to. I’m a grown man. I have an obligation to still do my job on the field. He supports me because he supports everyone being an individual and being themselves. A lot of my teammates, too, said they respected me for it.

I know a lot of players feel like this is a good movement, but not everybody is going to take a stand. My first year in the league, I didn’t know if I would have a platform because I was repeatedly getting released. Now I have a tremendous platform, so when I do have conviction about these issues, I know it’s the right thing to do to use it.

But even before I took a knee, I knew it would just be the beginning. The knee was just to bring awareness. It’s a symbol. What’s the point of protesting without any action? We’ve started a conversation now, and as much as anyone wants to believe there’s equality and that there is no discrimination in this country, there is. We may not be able to stop it entirely, but we can bring awareness and begin to correct the injustices, be it sexism, ageism, racism — all of it.

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So shortly after I took a knee, I started talking to people to figure what I can do and how I can do it.

There has been a lot of negativity, and I expected that, but I try to not read into it too much. A lot of the backlash is a diversion from the real issue, something I was reminded of firsthand this summer.

I was in Miami with three others at a restaurant and there was a shooting. Everybody ducked under the table out of fear, and a cop came in and told us it was fine, that it was just fireworks. We knew that wasn’t the truth.

We began to leave the only way we knew, but there was a lady in regular street clothes directing traffic, telling us, “Go this way, go this way!” At a serious, scary moment a lady I didn’t know was telling me which way to go, and I didn’t trust it.

We went our own way, and she yelled to the cops, “Stop him! Get him!” When I turned around, about five officers rushed toward me to take me down. They tried to take me down up top, then they tried to grab my legs. One of the cops pointed a Taser at my chest. They handcuffed me and I heard one say, “Take him in for resisting.”

I was in the back of the police car headed to the station when one of the officers radioes in and said, “Bring him back.” They told me, “Look, we’re not going to take you in as long as you keep this between us.”

I don’t regret anything I’ve done. This process has made me rethink things, too, and now I know that I have the power to effect change, not only locally but also nationally.

I will donate $300 for every tackle. Every single tackle. I’m compiling the list of local organizations and programs that I will donate to. Denver Police Chief Robert White suggested some during our meeting Tuesday. But I’m going to take my time to find the right organizations, because I want to make sure it gets into the right hands. I want to do this right.

One person can make a change. Colin Kaepernick started the fire, and I believe it takes other people’s participation to keep it burning.

Updated Sept. 16, at 4:57 p.m.: Updated to clarify that the piece was transcribed from an interview with Marshall.