In response to a photograph surfacing Thursday of 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick wearing socks depicting police officers as pigs on August 10, the former Super Bowl quarterback released a statement on Instagram Thursday afternoon.
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Standing to the right of Kaepernick in the photo above (his left) is Nate Boyer, a former green beret who is attempting to become an National Football League long snapper. Boyer had written a piece in the Army Times about being open to Kaepernick’s protest even if he was at first angered.
“There are already plenty people fighting fire with fire, and it’s just not helping anyone or anything. So I’m just going to keep listening, with an open mind”.
Their protest drew scattered boos and shouts, and Kaepernick said after the game that he would donate a portion of his salary this season to organizations that promote community justice, reported NBC News.
Kaepernick has said his protest is not aimed at the military, and on Thursday he stood and applauded as veterans were honored during the game.
Thursday night’s game is billed as military appreciation night, so Kaepernick’s stance struck a nerve. With final roster cuts looming this weekend, he is considered a longshot to make San Francisco’s final roster.
Racial tensions are mounting in the United States, where a string of recent police killings and subsequent revenge killings have sparked protests across the nation. “I feel like there needs to be a solution to the problem and I support his 1st Amendment right”, said McGuire. There’s things we can do to hold them more accountable. “I found it a little disrespectful given I have family in the military”, said Luis Lozano, 49ers’ fan.
“Let him try. It won’t happen”.
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Meanwhile, in Oakland, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane also sat out the anthem before his team’s game against the Raiders.
