Hank Aaron: Athletes must speak up to fight injustice

Hall of Famer Hank Aaron doesn't subscribe to the "stick to sports" philosophy. The former Braves great has a social justice award bearing his name, after all.

Speaking at the Center for Civil Rights and Human Rights in Atlanta on Friday, he offered his support to athletes who use their platforms to enact social change.

"I think they ought to voice their opinion, regardless of what one may think," Aaron said, according to Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We didn't get to where we are today because we kept our mouth closed or scratched our head and sat and didn't do anything. If you have an opinion, then you should voice it and let people know that is your opinion and you're not speaking for anybody but yourself."

Asked whether he, unlike the Philadelphia Eagles and Golden State Warriors, would accept an invitation to visit Donald Trump at the White House, Aaron didn't hold back.

"Would I visit the White House? Would I go? I have no reason to go. I've been there once or twice. And there's nobody there I want to see."