"Just being a guy to put myself out there," Bourne told the crowd, "I might be the one that makes other players put themselves out there. I just wanted to appreciate you all, everybody coming together. I seen the flyer, so I just wanted to come out and [give] my support to everybody.
"All the stuff that's been going on, it's just really scary out here. Everybody, keep the faith. Know change is going to come. I know it's going to come. I'm using my platform, just put it out there, retweeting everything I see, posting everything that needs to be done, needs to be changed with all the situations going on, all the cases that need to be reopened."
Added Bourne: "I love the Bay, so all the protests going on everywhere, keep it up. Stay strong."
Bourne kneeled at the end of his speech, and the crowd followed. Given recent events, there has been much talk surrounding the possibility that athletes — not just in the NFL — will once again kneel before games in protest of social injustice. It's an initiative that started with Colin Kaepernick doing the same thing in 2016. The former 49ers quarterback kneeled during the national anthem in an effort to bring attention to the issues of racism that continue to plague the country.
The peaceful protest and rally involved thousands of individuals marching down North Milpitas Boulevard, hoping for an end to racism and social injustice. Milpitas is located just north of San Jose.
Bourne is entering his fourth year in the NFL, and with the 49ers — the team that signed him in 2017 as an undrafted free agent. The receiver signed a one-year tender with San Francisco in April.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers Notebook: 'We're going to find out who wants to be here'; Dre Greenlaw's return sparks team; Purdy's costly INT; Rams RB talks a little trash after win
Underneath the frustration of their rather awful 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night, the San Francisco 49ers experienced one of the best moments of their forgettable 2024 season -- the return of linebacker Dre Greenlaw from the torn Achilles that kept him on... -
Easy, random Green Bay fan. The 49ers are not done yet
"He eliminated your team. Enjoy reading mock drafts." - A random Green Bay Packers fan. This comment was posted on "X," previously known as "Twitter." It was a response to another comment suggesting that the Packers' quarterback is not that good. Let's dive in. Jordan Love is... -
49ers mailbag: What do the 49ers have left in the tank for the last four games? Will SF bring back Robert Saleh? Can Brock Purdy beat good teams?
It's always a big week when the San Francisco 49ers play the Los Angeles Rams. In 2021, the rivalry became even bigger when the 49ers had to win in the season's final week, in Los Angeles, to make it into the playoffs. On Thursday night, the 49ers must win again to keep their... -
Pelissero: 49ers' Brock Purdy likely to pursue top-market contract
As the San Francisco 49ers' 2024 season winds down, all eyes are shifting toward what could be the offseason's biggest storyline: Brock Purdy's contract extension. The topic has already generated significant buzz, with many experts predicting that Purdy will reset the...