Kaepernick has sat rather than stand with his 49ers teammates during the national anthem in their exhibition games, and he plans to continue doing so to bring attention to racial injustice and other social concerns.
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“There’s a lot of personal attacks, there is a lot of insecurity, I think it’s a very unsafe time for this country, and Id encourage all people to be more understanding and also read the history of America and that protest is OK, as long as you are respectful, protest is part of our whole foundation of our country, but again if we don’t teach history, people won’t get that, they’ll get that blind patriotism, the blind loyalty and they don’t even tolerate designating point of views”, said Linder.
Kaepernick’s protest has earned him sharp criticism from those who have dubbed his act unpatriotic.
“Honestly, we have a lot more important things that we’re working on right here in our building”, Payton said. “I really didn’t think too much of it”.
Philadelphia Eagles rookie linebacker Myke Tavarres might share Kaepernick’s feelings on how black people are treated in the United States, and he said he wanted to join in the protest, but his agent talked him out of sitting down like Kaepernick.
“I’m not going to go try and recruit people and say, ‘Hey, come do this with me, ‘” Kaepernick said.
His figurines are now in the $5 bin and as for his autographed rookie cards, “These would probably have sold for around $100 or so and at this point I would be surprised if they would sell for $20 or $30”, said Olson.
Kaepernick told reporters he decided to make the statement because he believes people of color are being oppressed in the United States. We would imagine that Kaepernick’s political statement could be used by him or his agents in an effort to prevent what National Football League experts say is likely regardless, Kaepernick will no longer be a San Francisco 49er. I mean, he’s an NFL football player, so it was bigger that he did something. “Some are so affected they never return to the streets”.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, meanwhile, said that while he didn’t agree with Kaepernick’s views on race there was no offense in airing his grievances. “Even as objectionable as we find his perspective, he certainly is entitled to express them”.
Kaepernick’s move, which is not without historical precedent among black athletes, has also revived debate about the history of the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”. After the game, Kaepernick told NFL Media he sat to protest police misconduct and brutality. So, you know the anthem is not something that I would avoid or anything like that.
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He said his stand is not against men and women in the military fighting and losing their lives for Americans’ rights and freedoms.
