The Toronto Raptors stood at the singing of the national anthem with arms locked side by side in their own silent protest to recent events happening around the country.

Jared Sullinger took a moment to explain his team's demonstration and encouraged everyone to work to make a difference.

We felt great (about linking arms). At the end of the day we know what's right from right, and what's wrong from wrong. We know what's going on in the United States is wrong.

I just hate how it's going, and I wish people would wake up, open their eyes, and understand that minorities are getting picked on. It's obvious. We're not progressive, we're regressive. As time goes on, all those long fights that all these people sacrifice their lives, it's almost like making a mockery of them.

We can make a change. I'm talking from my nephew that's 13 years old to my dad that's 67 years old. We all can make a change some way some how. Every gesture matters.

Sullinger then explained his fears and why it bothers him that future generations have to deal with the same discriminations.

DeMar (DeRozan) has kids. Kyle (Lowry) has kids. DeMarre (Carroll) has kids. Jonas (Valanciunas) has kids. At the end of the day, if we go down this route that we're going down, they have fear for their kids. Some day I plan on having kids as well, and I don't want to have fear for my kids just because we're living in a nice neighborhood, and they get pulled over for no reason. I don't want that.

On top of that, sometimes you obey the officer, and they still pull the trigger. And then they have every excuse to for them to pull the trigger. It's just not right, it's just not right. What happened to deescalating the situation? In Columbus, Ohio they killed a 13-year-old – you're telling me you can't talk to a 13-year-old? … A year ago, a cop in Baton Rouge killed a 6-year-old kid just because the driver, he felt like it was self-defense, but the 6-year-old kid died, not the dad.

It's sad to see and I want to make a change. My way of changing is feeding people information that they don't normally see.

Sullinger seems to have a weight on his shoulders and he isn't the only one. There will be more comments, more protests, more showing of solidarity from players coming this season.

Only time will tell if any of this makes a difference.

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