The dramatic saga began when San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick did not stand during the national anthem at a pre-season football game August 26.
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“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 explained to NFL Media, adding that, “there are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder”.
The protest, which was first noticed by the media in a pre-season game against the Green Bay Packers on August 26, has added to the debate over the subjects of race, patriotism, sports protest and violence by and against police.
In a letter sent to the 49ers last Friday, the Santa Clara Police Officers’ Association said its officers could opt not to patrol Levi’s Stadium and the 49ers’ headquarters over Kaepernick’s pregame protest of not standing for the national anthem, the socks he wore that depicted cartoon pigs wearing police hats and his comments about police brutality.
“I haven’t heard of anybody refusing to work because of Kaepernick”, Santa Clara (Calif.) police spokesman Lt. Dan Moreno told USA TODAY Sports in a phone interview on Wednesday. “I have great respect for them”, Kaepernick said.
Brandon Marshall of the Denver Broncos became the latest NFL player to take a knee in protest during the singing of the national anthem before a game when he did it before Thursday night’s nationally televised game between the Broncos and Carolina Panthers in Denver.
“I support our players when they want to see change in society, and we don’t live in a flawless society”, Goodell told the Associated Press Wednesday. “On the other hand, we believe very strongly in patriotism in the National Football League”.
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The Seahawks open the regular season at home on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Kaepernick will dress for the game as the back-up quarterback after the team named Blaine Gabbert as starter.
