DETROIT – Martha Ford released a statement Sunday morning denouncing President Trump's call for NFL team owners to fire players for taking a knee during the national anthem.
Ford called Trump's comments negative and disrespectful.
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Here is her full statement:
"Our game has long provided a powerful platform for dialogue and positive change in many communities throughout our nation.
Thanks primarily to our players, the NFL also has been a unifying force in our country and impactful change has and hopefully will continue to be the result of peaceful expression, done so in order to highlight social injustices of all kind.
Negative and disrespectful comments suggesting otherwise are contrary to the founding principles of our country, and we do not support those comments or opinions."
Trump: Fire that 'son of a bitch'
Trump spoke Friday night at a rally for Alabama Republican Senate candidate Luther Strange. The President said that if fans would "leave the stadium" when players kneel in protest during the national anthem, "I guarantee, things will stop." He said NFL owners should respond to the players by saying, "Get that son of a bitch off the field right now, he's fired. He's fired!"
"For a week, (that owner would) be the most popular person in this country. Because that's a total disrespect of our heritage. That's a total disrespect for everything we stand for," Trump said.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell slammed Trump in a statement Saturday morning, calling the President "divisive" for the remarks.
Meanwhile, LeBron James called Trump a "bum" for his Saturday morning tweet uninviting Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry from visiting the White House.