After a 31-21 win over the Chargers, Kaepernick spoke about the fact that Reid had joined him in the protest, as well as about donating the first $1 million he earns this year to various charities.
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He said he wanted to show support for 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has made similar gestures as a sign of protest through the preseason. “I want to help make America better”, he said. “We talked about issues that are taking place in this country and how to prompt change, but I also reminded him the great freedoms and luxuries we have in America”. I have to help these communities.
According to ESPN, this decision came after a 90-minute conversation Kaepernick and Eric Ried had over the weekend with former long snapper, Nate Boyer, who used to be an Army Green Beret.
“The message is that we have a lot of issues in this country that we need to deal with”, Kaepernick said after Thursday night’s game.
Kaepernick’s protest – for which he has cited issues ranging from police brutality to treatment of veterans – began a week ago before the 49ers took on the Packers.
Post-game, Reid stated that it was Kapernick’s idea to take a knee and not sit, because it showed more respect to the anthem and military.
Kaepernick altered his protest on Thursday to taking a knee for the anthem instead of remaining seated.
Thursday night’s game coincided with the Chargers’ already pre-planned military appreciation night, as anger in sections of the crowd focused on the 49ers quarterback.
He said that he hadn’t, adding “I’m very happy”.
When asked if he will continue to kneel, Reid said, “I think I will”.
Kaepernick pledges to donate the first $1 million he makes this season to communities that help people. “So I’m just going to keep listening, with an open mind”. After the game, Jeremy admitted to The News Tribune that he sat during the national anthem because he was “standing behind Kaepernick”.
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“The media painted this as I’m anti-American, anti-men-and-women of the military and that’s not the case at all, ” Kaepernick said.
