Kaepernick, of course, made headlines early August 27 after it was revealed he sat during the national anthem before the 49ers’ first three preseason games protesting social injustices, racial inequality and police brutality.
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“I love America”, he said.
The anthem should only be played at sports events in which the US military academies are involved.
He was joined this time by his teammate, safety Eric Reid as a large flag was displayed over the field at Qualcomm Stadium just before the Chargers’ Salute to the Military preseason game.
As a veteran of the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1985, I say “put up or shut up”.
Niners safety Eric Reid, who joined Kaepernick by taking a knee during the national anthem before Thursday night’s game in San Deigo, took aim at police brutality, posting a video on Twitter on Saturday of a student at a SC high school being forcefully removed from her desk by an officer previous year.
Following the game, he told reporters: “I’m not anti-American”. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color”, Kaepernick said in an interview with NFL Media after the August 26 game.
“We came to compromise about him taking a knee”, he said.
It should be noted that Kaepernick has also modified his protest and is now kneeling during the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner rather than sitting.
“Even though my initial reaction to your protest was one of anger, I’m trying to listen to what you’re saying and why you’re doing it. He’s looked up [to] by kids, you know”, Brewer told the FOX Business Network’s Dagen McDowell. “I want to help make America better”. In tacit acknowledgment of this sentiment, Kaepernick said that while he plans to continue his protests as the regular season rumbles into gear, he also intends to donate $1 million “to different organizations to help these communities and help these people”.
Kaepernick has refused to stand for the Star-Spangled Banner during matches, in protest against the plight of black people in the USA and their treatment by police.
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“The message is that we have a lot of issues in this country that we need to deal with”, Kaepernick said. The two decided together to kneel on the sideline during the national anthem.
