Panthers discuss security for game with riots in Charlotte

— -- CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Officials with the Carolina Panthers?have been assessing security issues for Sunday's home game against the Minnesota Vikings amid violent protests in the downtown area.

The NFL still plans to play Sunday's game in Charlotte, but as a normal course of business, is exploring other options in the unexpected event that circumstances in Carolina escalate, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The protests began Tuesday night after a black Charlotte police officer shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott, who also is black, in an apartment complex parking lot about 15 minutes from Bank of America Stadium.

The protests moved a few blocks from the stadium on Wednesday night, turning violent with gunshots, vandalism and police setting off tear gas bombs in an attempt to break up the protesters.

Many local businesses already have told employees not to come downtown for work unless it is necessary. In fact, NASCAR has closed its Charlotte office for normal business Thursday. During the unrest Wednesday night in Charlotte, windows were broken on the ground floor of the building tower where NASCAR offices occupy several floors. The building is adjacent to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.?The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, which operates the Hall of Fame, said exterior windows were damaged, but the facility will be open as scheduled Thursday.

The primary concern for Panthers officials is whether there will be enough police to handle the safety concerns of the city and keep the stadium secure.

The team issued a statement Thursday that said, "We are in contact with government officials, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the NFL. We are continuing to monitor events as we prepare for Sunday's home game."

Protests are anticipated on Sunday. During Wednesday night's protest, a man carrying a megaphone shouted that if quarterback Cam Newton stood during the national anthem, his No. 1 jerseys would be burned.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been kneeling during the anthem for the past month as a protest against social injustice in the United States. While some players around the country have joined Kaepernick's protest, the Panthers have not.

But Newton did post a message on Facebook on Wednesday saluting Kaepernick for "making a stand for injustice in this country.''

Newton typically doesn't publicly address social issues, but he made an exception Wednesday. He spent a majority of his weekly news conference addressing what is happening in Charlotte.

"I'm an African-American and I'm not happy how the justice has been dealt with over the years, and the state of oppression in our community,'' the NFL MVP said. "But we also as black people have to do right by ourselves. We can't be hypocrites.

"And I say that on one voice and also another voice that when you go public or when things happen in the community, it's not the fact that things are happening, it's the way they are being treated after they happen.''

The police said Scott exited his vehicle carrying a gun. Scott's family said he was unarmed and sitting in his car reading a book while waiting for his son to come home from school.

Protests involving hundreds on Tuesday night turned to violence. Rocks were thrown, police vehicles were vandalized and fires were set. Sixteen police officers reportedly were injured. The situation escalated on Wednesday night.

"It could have happened in Atlanta. It could have happened in Los Angeles. It doesn't matter,'' Newton said. "It's embarrassing for things to keep happening, and from what I do know we had an incident that happened in 2013 that had something to do with the police and it went to jury and whatever, it got washed away in time.''

Newton was referring to the 2013 fatal shooting of Jonathan Ferrell by Charlotte officer Randall Kerrick. Ferrell, who was black, was shot 10 times by Kerrick, who is white.

Kerrick was charged with voluntary manslaughter. A judge declared a mistrial after the jury could not reach a verdict.

"My big thing is holding people accountable, no matter what the race, no matter what the gender is, no matter what the age is,'' Newton said. "We all have to hold each other accountable.''

Information from ESPN's Bob Pockrass was used in this report.