COLIN KAEPERNICK has seen furious fans burn his jersey after he refused to stand during the American national anthem.
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During a preseason NFL game against the Green Bay Packers, Kaepernick made a decision to remain on the bench instead of standing for the “National Anthem”. “One specifically? Police brutality”, said Kaepernick, whose adoptive parents are Caucasian. This is an opportunity to honor our country and reflect on the freedoms we enjoy as citizens.
Kaepernick is trying to win back the starting job in San Fransisco, competing against Blaine Gabbert, who took over the spot last season.
“I am not looking for approval”, he added.
“People die every single day defending that flag you refuse to stand for and I won’t stand for that”.
Kaepernick has always been a supporter of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, recently taking a stand in the wake of the police killing of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, La.
As we previously told you, the football star who makes $19 million per year, refused to stand during the National Anthem on August 26 as part of a racial protest.
“Disrespecting the national anthem, I don’t think there’s any excuse for that”, said Steven Carval, a football fan.
Kaepernick’s decision has not gone unnoticed among National Football League players and writers, who appear to be divided over his protest.
Although Boldin chooses to stand for the anthem, the veteran receiver and the NFL’s 2015 Walter Payton Man of the year believes Kaepernick has the freedom to choose not to.
According to NFL Media, Kaepernick has protested the anthem in another preseason game, but this time, his protest garnered national attention. On his Twitter account, he repeatedly expressed on the issue of civil rights and showed his support to the movement “Black Lives Matter”.
Kaepernick said his decision comes after years of both witnessing and being a part of racial oppression.
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The NFL says that players are not required to stand during the national anthem but are encouraged to. Edwards is a sociologist and African-American activist who helped plan the “Olympic Project for Human Rights” before the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, where US sprinters and medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos bowed their heads through the anthem on the medal podium in their black power protest.
