The Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions both made Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. an honorary captain for their game Sunday, part of the Falcons' Rise Up and Vote Initiative to shed a light on the importance of voting.
King's daughter, Rev. Bernice King, will be part of Atlanta's pregame festivities, pulling the club's Train Horn.
Prior to Sunday's game, at least some Lions players wore T-shirts with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. that had the logos of both teams under it.
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter," the quote on the shirts read.
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) October 25, 2020
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was selected by members of both teams as today's #DETvsATL honorary captain. #InspireChange | #WeWontBeSilent pic.twitter.com/H7gh8GpTbx
King is the latest in a line of honorary captains selected by the Falcons for home games, including the late Congressman John Lewis, Reverend C.T. Vivian and Joseph E. Lowery. Earlier this week, the Lions' Matthew Stafford and Duron Harmon and the Falcons' Matt Ryan and Ricardo Allen combined to do a panel discussion about social justice reform and voting.
The Lions -- in particular Harmon, Stafford and defensive end Trey Flowers -- have participated in multiple town halls and panel discussions on voter registration and the importance of voting, dating back to this summer.
