USC alum Zach Banner uses platform to fight anti-semitism

When USC football alum Zach Banner posted a video in response to an anti-Semitic Instagram post by DeSean Jackson on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon, he became one of the first NFL players to speak out on the issue. Little did he know how much attention and praise he would receive for speaking out in the video, which has now been viewed more than 700,000 times.

"I just needed to be able to post something," Banner explained. "I could never imagine it was going to get this much attention." 

In his heartfelt video, Banner, an All-American offensive tackle for the Trojans who now plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers, explained that his friends from USC taught him about the Jewish community. Banner was a member of Zeta Beta Tau, a historically Jewish fraternity, and credits his ZBT brothers with sharing their family's experiences as part of his learning about the Jewish community.

"We shouldn't be blind to other groups' history, traditions and other stuff they have gone through, some of the things that have set them back," said Banner, emphasizing the importance of education. "If you don't know what the Holocaust is, you're really just failing yourself."

Banner's words quickly began gaining traction on social media, and he began receiving messages from people who felt the impact of his words on a personal level, sharing that his message made them cry.

"To be able to uplift anybody, and be able to make someone's day, one individual is okay to me, but when that love is appreciated worldwide, it's almost too much, because I am just so proud of not only myself but when I do something like that, but I'm representing my friends," Banner said.

Banner said he only slept for 45 minutes on Wednesday night, overwhelmed by the response he had received.

Banner's B3 Foundation, which supports youth in Tacoma, Wash., Los Angeles and Guam, has received an outpouring of support as well, receiving more than $50,000 in donations since Wednesday. The donations received have been in increments of $18, a Jewish tradition honoring the numeric value assigned to Hebrew letters that mean "life."

"It's just really, really powerful to know that in response to sticking my neck out, they have not only put their arm around me and said, 'We appreciate it. We got your back as well,'" Banner said.

Banner has continued the conversation on social media, supporting communities who need it through his words and actions.

"I'm ready for that challenge, to be able to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community as I am also trying to uplift my own through the Black Lives Matter, and the Black and brown people," he said.