The heated conversation that Colin Kaepernick touched off with his decision to protest police brutality is still raging, nearly a week after it was noticed that he remains seated during the playing of the national anthem at games.
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While a naval officer sang the first notes of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and dozens of military members unfurled an oversized flag on the football field, Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid dropped to one knee on the San Francisco 49ers’ sideline.
But others have come to his defense, including National Football League legend Jim Brown and NBA icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – and perhaps most important of all, veterans. The festivities included pregame music from the Marine Band San Diego, halftime recognition of Vietnam War veterans, and a crowd filled with numerous injured soldiers invited as special guests.
It was a solid game for Kaepernick at a very crucial time.
“I think it would be foolish if you were to say there isn’t an issue in this country with minorities”, Reid said. “The American flag is sacred”, said Brees.
Kaepernick altered his protest on Thursday to taking a knee for the anthem instead of remaining seated.
Kaepernick made waves last Friday, when he was seen sitting during the playing of the national anthem. I’ll be standing right there next to you.
“At the start of the third quarter, Petty officer 1st Class Steven Powell will return to the field where he will perform “God Bless America”, the Chargers statement said”. “The one thing fortunately here, the people around our building at the 49ers, I think have done a great job of working with us in terms of how to handle the situation”.
More recently, players for the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Minnesota Lynx took the court last month with warmup shirts that said “Black Lives Matter”.
And the Chargers’ fans expressed their opinion of Kaepernick’s actions by giving him the Eli Manning treatment.
The performance could cement Kaepernick’s spot on the roster, make him an attractive trade option, and/or inject him unexpectedly into the mix to become the starting quarterback.
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All indications suggest that he will in fact again sit during the anthem, a decision that led to severe criticism of Kaepernick from many Americans who felt he did the nation a dishonor.
