Sales of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick jerseys have skyrocketed in the wake of his refusal to stand for the national anthem, which he says is protest against America’s treatment of “black people and people of color”.
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If nothing else, Obama said, Kaepernick has gotten people talking about subjects of race, equality and discrimination, topics that Obama, the first black president, son of a white mother and Kenyan father, has examined many times before.
Obama’s views on Kaepernick are in sharp contrast to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who said on a Seattle radio station that “maybe he should find a new country that works for him”.
Undeterred, he kneeled through the national anthem at a second preseason game against the San Diego Chargers on Thursday.
Update: Kaepernick now has 5th-best selling jersey in the National Football League – tops among QBs.
“My understanding, at least, is that he’s exercising his constitutional right to make a statement”, Obama said.
“I think it is very courageous of him to continue to stand up for what he believes in”, said Reid.
Santa Clara’s police chief commented Saturday on a letter from a police union threatening to stop working at Levi’s Stadium events. “You’ve heard me talk in the past about the need for us to have an active citizenry”.
“But I don’t doubt his sincerity, based on what I’ve heard”.
Obama took a measured approach Monday, saying that members of the military, getting in harm’s way for the flag and the country, could feel spurned by Kaepernick’s protest, he is also glad that Kaepernick is speaking up.
After the game, Rapinoe said her protest was “a little nod to Kaepernick and everything that he’s standing for right now”.
Despite the enormous amount of backlash he’s received, Kaepernick has clearly gained a following of sorts, who now are showing their support by purchasing his jersey.
Dave Zirin, a sports editor for The Nation and a historian on sports protests, told ABC News in an interview last week that Kaepernick’s precarious spot on the 49ers roster only served to strengthen the power of his protest.
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There is no data to indicate exactly what demographic group is buying the embattled athlete’s jersey but if the experience of Michael Vick is any indication, it is nearly entirely Blacks and other people of color.
