The 49ers quarterback refused to stand for the anthem for the fourth time in as many preseason games Thursday night in San Diego, taking a knee on the sidelines while teammate Eric Reid did the same as a soldier sang “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
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Kaepernick has said he plans to sit for the anthem again Thursday night when the 49ers player their final exhibition game in San Diego.
When Kaepernick left the field following pregame warmups, he was greeted with profanity and obscene gestures from Leo Uzcategui, a 20-year Navy veteran in a military-green Chargers jersey with quarterback Philip Rivers’ No. 17 in camouflage numbering. Kaepernick said during a half-hour interview session on Sunday that he would continue to stand until things changed.
“He’s just speaking out (but) he used a platform that many Americans don’t agree with”, Smith said on Tuesday. Kaepernick said. “I have two uncles and friends who are police officers and work to protect and serve ALL people. I’ve seen it first-hand and for someone to do that who gets paid millions of dollars, it’s ridiculous”. But Kaepernick went into the game knowing he’d be in the spotlight – and the target of boos and jeers – and yet was able to play his best football of the summer season. Kaepernick said last week his refusal to stand during the anthem was in protest of racial injustice and minority oppression. “So I have the utmost respect for them, and I think what I did was taken out of context and spun a different way”. I’ll be standing right there next to you. After the anthem, Kaepernick got up and embraced both Reid and Boyer.
“I don’t like it”, said Navy veteran John Lair.
Kaepernick also had some supporters in the crowd. Kaepernick also clarified what he’s trying to accomplish with his protest.
If you’re an American and you’ve heard about Colin Kaepernick’s protest, you very probably have one of three opinions on the matter: You strongly support him, you’re strongly against him or you just don’t care and wish this story would be over.
While the former Super Bowl starter’s status on this Chip Kelly team is fascinating in its own right, his protest during the national anthem will continue to drive national news.
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But the demonstration has also drawn fierce criticism from a wide range of people, including the San Francisco Police Officer’s Association, which, in a statement, called him “misinformed” and demanded an apology. Working against San Diego’s defensive backups and with San Francisco’s second-team offense, it wasn’t the type of performance that should win Kaepernick the starting job, but it was enough to show that there is still a drop-off from Kaepernick to backups Jeff Driskel and Christian Ponder.
