Vikings push for racial justice and equality

"For me it was a real proud moment to see the maturity that our football team has."

Vikings plan to use their platform to push for racial justice and equality.

For me it was a real proud moment to see the maturity that our football team has, how thoughtful our football players are, and how caring they are.

Thursday morning..profe ssional sports teams began taking the day off.

The minnesota vikings on the other hand had a two hour meeting just to talk about current issues.

Co?

"*defensive coordinator ?

"* andre patterson ?

"* said there were a wide rane of topics that were discussed.

Helping with low income families, helping with education, helping with rehabilitation with people who come out of prison, you know being able to talk about voter right laws i mean it was al kinds of things that were said there and i think the biggest thing that our team was trying to say was is it's just not a one issue thing and that.

It was clear the vikings want to make a difference not just in the minneapolis community but around the country.

Head coach mike zimmer said that players and coaches including patterson shared thier real life expereinces that create a call for change.

You know, andre, this is the first time i heard it ?

"* andre told me he had been pulled over three different times and had guns pulled on him and he wasn't doing anything.

He wasn't speeding, his blinker wasn't wrong, he wasn't changing lanes... they let him go each time... that's not right!

After an emotional meeting... the vikings are a mission this season to create that change.

They didn't want to make a statement that would only be listened to for a 24 hour period that we were just another team that also decided not practice today.